Class II. G R E Y L A G G O O S E. 571 



domeftic goofe. The old geefe which are flior, are 

 plucked and ibid in the market as fine tame ones ; 

 and readily bought, the purchafer being deceived 

 by the fize, but their fleih is coarfe. Towards 

 winter they collect in great flocks, but in all fea- 

 ibns live and feed in the fens. 



The Grey Lag is the origin of the domeftic goofe ; 

 it is the only fpecies that the Britons could take 

 young, and familiarize : the other two never breed 

 here, and migrate during iummer. The mallard 

 comes within the fame defcription, and is the fpe- 

 cies to which we owe our tame breed of ducks : 

 both preferve fome of the marks of their wild ftate ; 

 the goofe the whitenels of the coverts of the tail 

 and vent-feathers ; the drake its curled feathers. 

 The goofe in other colors fports lefs in the tame 

 kind than the other. 



Tame geefe are of vaft longevity. Mr. IVillugh- Tame Goose 

 by gives an example of one that attained eighty 

 years. 



Tame geefe are keep in vad multitudes in the 

 fens of Lincoln/hire % a fmgle perfon will keep a 

 thoufand old geefe, each of which will rear feven -> 

 fo that towards the end of the feafon he will be- 

 come mailer of eight thoufand. I beg leave to re- 

 peat here part of the hiftory of their ceconorny 

 from my tour in Scotland, in order to complete my 

 account. 



During the breeding feafon thele birds are lodg- 

 ed in the fame houfes with the inhabitants, and 



ever* 



