SOLAN GOOSE. 24? 



once or twice around within reach, and almost al- 

 ways allured hy throwing some white or marked 

 ohject overboard. 



Most, if not the whole, of these breeding stations 

 are rented from the proprietors, the rent being paid 

 chiefly by the feathers. The young geese are killed 

 and cured. The Bass furnished yearly, we believe, 

 from fifteen hundred to two thousand. The young are 

 also said to be brought to the Edinburgh markets, and 

 sold fresh ; but we have never met with the dish at 

 table, nor been able to ascertain what class of people 

 were the chief purchasers; nor are we very sure 

 where is the principal market for those that are 

 salted in the north, although we have once or twice 

 eaten them boiled as a ham, and considered them by 

 no means either strong, fishy, or unpalatable. 



Its ascertained range out of Britain is to the north 

 of Europe, Iceland, and the Feroe Isles. Out of Eu- 

 rope, we have Wilson and Audubon, considering the 

 birds of America similar to the European species, 

 breeding in the same way, and upon local precipitous 

 rocks, their stations on the coast of Labrador are 

 visited annually by the cod-fishers to procure bait, 

 the flesh of the goose being cut up into strips and 

 cured for that purpose ; the birds are knocked down 

 with sticks-, boat-hooks, &c., and appear as if they 

 were confused, or ignorant of the attacks of man. 

 The Prince of Canino, however, has placed the 

 American goose in his Comparative List, distinct, 

 as the S. Americana. It is also said to be a native 

 of the African coast ; and we give a short description 



