CANADA GOOSE. 289 



disabled in the wings, dive well and become difficult to cap- 

 ture. When the shallow bays and ponds are frozen, they seek 

 the mouths of inlets near the sea, in quest of their fare. 



The Canada Goose is now completely domesticated, and is 

 as familiar, breeds as freely, and is in every respect as valuable 

 as the common Gray Goose. Even in Buffon's time, " many 

 hundreds inhabited the great canal at Versailles, where they 

 bred familiarly with the Swans ; " and he also adds, " There is 

 at present a great number on the magnificent pools that deco- 

 rate the charming gardens of Chantilly." The female, in a 

 state of domesticity, still with instinctive caution seeks out the 

 most solitary place for her nest, not far from the water. These 

 birds are also extremely watchful, and the gander often very 

 resentful and clamorous against any stranger who happens to 

 approach the place where his consort is breeding. He often 

 engenders with the Goose of the common species, and the 

 hybrids are greatly esteemed for the superiority of their 

 flavor. 



The natural desire of periodical migration is strongly ex- 

 hibited by Canada Geese while in a state of domestication ; 

 and though at all other times reconciled to accustomed and 

 voluntary captivity, they are often heard instinctively to hail 

 the passing flocks as they pursue their yielding way high in the 

 air. Individuals have been known to leave the premises where 

 they appeared entirely domestic, after the healing of the 

 wounds which brought them into captivity, and they have thus 

 successfully mounted into the air and joined some passing 

 party pursuing their way to the North. 



A Mr. Piatt, of Long Island, having wounded a female Wild 

 Goose, succeeded in taming it, and left it at large with his 

 other Common Geese. Its wound healed, and it soon became 

 familiar and reconciled to its domestic condition ; but in the 

 following spring it joined a party of Canada Geese and disap- 

 peared until autumn ; when at length, out of a passing flock, 

 Mr. Piatt observed three Geese detach themselves from their 

 companions, and after wheeling round several times, alight in 

 the barn-yard, when, to his astonishment, he recognized in o^e 



YQL. II. — 19 



