CHAPTER XXVII.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.

(Anser Albifrons: called “Brant " in the West.)

HEAD and neck, grayish brown; at the base of the upper mandible a white band. Adult with bill carminered; with the ungins white; head and neck grayish brown; a white band margined behind with blackish brown on the anterior part of the forehead, along the bill: general color of the back, deep-gray, the feathers of its fore part, broadly tipped with grayish brown, the rest with grayish white. Hind part of back, deepgray; wings grayish brown, toward the edge ash-gray, as are the primary coverts, and outer webs of the primaries; rest of the primaries and secondaries grayish black, the latter, with a narrow edge of grayish white, the former, edged and tipped with white. Breast, abdomen, lower tail coverts, sides, rump and upper tail coverts, white; the breast and sides, patched with brownish-black, on the latter intermixed with grayishbrown feathers. Tail, rounded; feet, orange; claws, white. Length, twenty-seven and one half inches; wing fourteen and one half inches.

The white-fronted geese, at a not remote period were very plenty throughout the West. Their numbers have steadily decreased, going regularly and surely before

advancing civilization. In former days, they were often found, though not associating with, yet in the same open waters, lakes and ponds where ducks resorted for food. They are exceedingly shy and hard to decoy, usually flying high over land, and pitching down almost vertically, when inclined to alight in some feeding ground, or unexposed water. They are entirely lacking in inquisitiveness, and therefore decoy poorly. The mere fact that what appears to be a large number of their kind, resting quietly in great security, in some quiet retreat, makes but little difference to their knowing minds. They rely on their individual senses, and, if things appear all right to them, singly and collectively, well and good; if not, the matter is at once settled, and shying off, they utter their familiar "Ah-le,” Ah-le," and avoid places the least suspicious.

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Because of the uncertainty of decoying them decoys of their own kind will not pay for the making. Canada Geese decoys answer the purpose, placed in stubble fields as directed in article on " Wild Goose Shooting," but the hunter will find them wary and hard to get, under all circumstances. The best way and the most successful is when one is shooting mallards on the edge of a vast field of wild rice, or hidden in one's boat in the same kind of blind. Keep a sharp look-out for them at all times, and early in the morning, in the dim gray light; or, at even-time, when the day is dying, their big phantom forms will loom up boldly against the sky, and they can easily be killed. Of course, these are only chance opportunities; but bear in mind, that is the way to get them, by chance, for they cannot be found in sufficient numbers to afford amusement to the hunter who is out for success, as well as for recreation. Nos.

4 and 5 are best sizes, where they can be fired at at close range. At long distance, 50 to 70 yards, 1 oz., No. 2, 5 1-2 or 6 dms. powder in a 10 gauge gun will make a load that will please one for effectiveness. At the same time, the recoil will be reduced, by reason of the small amount of shot, and dressed as the duck hunter should be, the recoil will not be at all unpleasant.