. The Ornithologists' and oologists' semi-annual . ecedes them by a few days, butfAey do not stay here in any great numbersthrough the winter, but after Hngering afew weeks, pass on to more southern lati-tudes. On their return journey north, they do not stay here, exceptto rest for a few hours. During severe weather, when the thermometer registers in the tensbelow zero, the Geese will congregate on a large lake near my houseand will by constant swimming about, with the assistance of thousandsof Mallard Ducks (which also stay with us all winter), keep open sev-eral acres of water. At such times
. The Ornithologists' and oologists' semi-annual . ecedes them by a few days, butfAey do not stay here in any great numbersthrough the winter, but after Hngering afew weeks, pass on to more southern lati-tudes. On their return journey north, they do not stay here, exceptto rest for a few hours. During severe weather, when the thermometer registers in the tensbelow zero, the Geese will congregate on a large lake near my houseand will by constant swimming about, with the assistance of thousandsof Mallard Ducks (which also stay with us all winter), keep open sev-eral acres of water. At such times either the Geese or the Duckswill always be found at their post, as it is a matter of life or death tothem then, the Geese go off to feed at early morning when the Duckscome home, and also in the evening, taking care to get home by dusk,as then the Ducks go out to feed, and dont come back until the peep-o-day. In the five years that I have resided here, I have never known themto fail to keep open a large piece of water, which, without their con-. CANADA GOOSE. 26 The Ornithologists and Oologists Semi-Annual. stant attention would soon freeze over, and their only supply cut off,as the rivers as well as lakes are then closed up. On this lake they are well protected and a shot-gun quarantine isrigidly kept up to keep off hunters; but numbers are killed whilepassing to and from their feeding ground. [Mr. Smith writes that he is not familiar with the breeding habits ofthe Canada Goose and therefore cannot give a description of its nestand eggs. We have tried to get an authentic account of its nestinghabits, but have failed to do so, but we will furnish a full account innext issue from a collector who is familiar with its nesting and hascollected several sets of its eggs. Ed.] NOTES ON SOME OF THE WINTER BIRDS OF CHESTERCOUNTY, PA. BY W. L. MARIS, WEST CHESTER, PA. One of the prettiest little birds, which braves the snow and rain ofour ever-changing winters is the Chickadee,/arz/i a
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