^34 



STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



Although the goose is an aquatic bird, it is not exclusively so. Indeed, 

 some geese pass the greater part of their lives on land. They walk ex- 

 tremely well, and though in swimming they arc neither so graceful as the 







THE SrUR-WINGED GOOSE. 



swan, nor as active as the duck, they row themselves along the water with ease 

 and facility, and their power of flight is remarkable. 



The grey goose, from which our domestic goose is descended, was 

 formerly common in the fenny districts of England, but is now compara- 

 tively rare both in this country and in Ireland. It is a regular winter visitor 



