CANADA GOOSE. 93 



standing the proximity of the water, which offers a great 

 temptation, it is rare to find her off her nest. During the 

 period of incubation the male is, through the greater part of 

 the day, sailing in measured time and slow over the water, 

 never approaching his mate very near, nor straying very far. 

 On the approach of any intruder he displays great uneasiness, 

 and his tranquillity does not return till the danger is over. 

 Shortly after the goslings have extricated themselves from 

 their brittle covering, they are conducted to the water by the 

 female, when they are joined by the male, who brings up the 

 rear. The little family remain together till the return of the 

 flock, when all mix promiscuously, recruit themselves for a 

 few days, and then depart. A pinioned female was joined by 

 a male. When they were approached, the male did not fly 

 away until he was pursued so closely as to be in danger of 

 being caught ; he remained with his mate as long as was con- 

 sistent with his liberty ; when that was in danger, and not till 

 then, he deserted the female. Several of the wild goslings 

 were obtained in the season of 1832, two of them passed into 

 the hands of a neighbouring farmer, in whose possession they 

 have remained ever since. They associate with his domesti- 

 cated Grey-leg Geese, and are very peaceable." Montagu 

 had observed that the Canada Goose will breed with the 

 common species. Bewick says " great numbers of these 

 Canadian Geese were driven from their haunts during the 

 severe snow storms of January and February, 1814 ; they 

 were taken upon the sea-shore, near Hartlepool, and divided 

 among the farmers in the neighbourhood, no pains having 

 been taken to keep the breed pure." 



Sir W. Jardine observes, in a note in his edition of Wil- 

 son's American Ornithology, " On the beautiful piece of water 

 at Gosford House, the seat of the Earl of Wemyss, Hadding- 

 tonshire, the Canadian Goose and many other water birds 

 rear their young freely. I have never seen any artificial piece 



