THE TREE-GOOSE. 347 



appeared to be in vain, and after diving again and again, and 

 as often rising to get breath, it became nearly exhausted ; 

 when suddenly turning, it made for the shore with all speed 

 towards the officer's house, where two men were at work ; and, 

 as soon as it had landed, walked leisurely up to them, permit- 

 ting itself to be taken without attempting to escape. It was 

 completely exhausted, but soon recovered, and within three 

 days seemed quite contented, and confident of protection. 



Amongst other species of wild Geese, there is one called the 

 Bernacle, or Tree-Goose, which we shall mention on account of 

 the extraordinary origin imputed to it, not only by ignorant, 

 but even by some better informed people, in former days ; and 

 which may be adduced as one, amongst very many instances, 

 of the advantages of knowledge in separating truth from error. 



It will scarcely be nowadays believed, that this Bernacle, 

 or Tree-Goose, actually derived its name from a very general 

 belief, that, instead of being hatched, like other birds, from an 

 egg, it was produced from a shell which grew on trees and 

 rotten wood ; and the shell was, therefore, called the Goose- 

 bearing shell. For this foolish idea there was no other founda 

 tion than pieces of wood and decayed trees being often found iu 

 parts of the sea frequented by these Geese, all covered over with 

 these shells, which seem to grow upon little stalks ; and as the 

 feelers of the fish within it are feathered, or fringed, they were 

 supposed to be the downy covering of the young Goslings. 



As a curious specimen of ignorant reasoning and credulity, 

 we shall extract an account, written by the sage Gerard, as 

 he was called, author of a well-known book, called GERAKD'S 

 Herbal, or History of Plants. This author was born at Nant- 

 wich. in Cheshire, and lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth. 



" There is," says he, "a small island in Lancashire called the 

 Pile of Foulders (on the west side of the entrance into Morecambe- 

 bay, about fifteen miles south of Ulverston), wherein are found the 

 broken pieces of old and bruised ships, and also the trunks and 

 bodies, with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast up there like- 

 wise ; whereon is found a certain spume, or froth, that in time 

 breedeth unto certain shells, in shape like those of the muskle, but 

 sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour, wherein is contained a thinj? 

 iu form like a lace of silke. finely woven as it were together ; one en<i 



