240 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 
this circumstance (probably a mere legend), that 
*‘ the goose is very vigilant and watchfull: witnesse 
the capitol of Rome, which by the meanes of geese 
was defended and saved; whereas at the same time, 
through the default of dogs (which should have 
given warning), all had like to have bin lost.”* 
fflian again tells us that the Gauls bribed the dogs 
of the capitol to silence with food, which the geese 
refused and screamed out; and hence it was infer- 
red by Columella that geese are preferable to dogs 
for watching a farm, while Vegetius does not hesi- 
tate to assert that they are the most vigilant senti- 
nels that can be planted in a besieged city. 
Whatever truth may be in the narratives given 
by Livy and Atlian, we are quite certain that, so 
far from possessing any superiority either in hearing 
or smelling, the goose is much inferior to many oth- 
er birds in these respects. This is easily proved 
by the simple experiment of trying the effect of va- 
rious sounds upon the birds, taking care to have the 
cause thereof concealed from their view. We have, 
for example, caused a dog to bark behind a wall on 
the other side of which geese were feeding, without 
their appearing to take any notice of it, any more 
than they did when we shouted aloud on purpose to 
alarm them. When the dog, however, was brought 
into view, they took immediate alarm. __ 
The correct view of the matter, as it appears to 
us, was first hinted at by Albertus Magnus, who says 
the goose sleeps so lightly that it is awakened by 
the least noise. The profoundness of sleep, indeed, 
is found to be in proportion to the quantity of brain 
and the rapidity of circulation, and both these being 
in birds unfavourable to sleep, renders them very 
easily awakened. The hearing, also, according to 
M. Cabani, though it is not so soon overpowered by 
sleep as sight, smell, and taste, is much more easily 
* Hist. Nat., x., 22, by Holland. 
