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CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE WILD GOOSE. 



THIS Bird is called by European writers, the Canada Goose. 

 It is capable of domestication, and, as a Wild Bird, breeds in 

 the Arctic regions, going south on the approach of winter ; its 

 migrations north, are the sure sign of returning spring. Over 

 all the Atlantic States, at least, the inhabitants are quite fa- 

 miliar with its passing and repassing. 



It is said, with what truth I know not, that, though the 

 "Wild Goose will breed with the Domestic, yet the half-breds 

 will not breed with each other. 



Mr. Dixon is under the impression, that what he calls the 

 Canada, (the same as our Wild Goose,) the Bernicle, and the 

 Brent Goose, are all occasionally mistaken for each other. 

 This he attributes to what he calls, and justly too, the compil- 

 ing system of Zoological literature; for he says, that the 

 history of the Anser Oanadensis, in a state of nature, and in 

 captivity, has been so well and so fully written by the ablest 

 ornithologists, both of England and America, that for me to 

 attempt giving complete details, would be either to restate the 

 same facts in less appropriate language, or to commit a whole- 

 sale plunder of compilation upon the stores of preceding au- 

 thors. But, although unwilling to be guilty of this kind of 

 pillage, I must necessarily make some reference to the labours 



