428 A GREAT WINDFALL. 



" On some of the servants looking out of the windows, 

 they noticed a great increase to our own flock of geese, 

 and as they knew the gates were shut, 4hey felt some 

 surprise, and went out of doors to ascertain who and what 

 were the new arrivals. But they had hardly entered the 

 enclosure, when a great commotion ensued amongst the 

 geese, many of which took wing, and attempted to fly away. 

 All these were wild geese (Anser Segetum). The tame ones 

 ran backwards and forwards, and from their actions it was 

 evident they would gladly have followed the example of their 

 guests ; but to this the muscles of their wings, as a natural 

 consequence of their being domesticated, were totally unequal. 

 Nor had even the wild geese, wearied by their long flight, and 

 from the space being so confined, the power to rise above the 

 pallisades. The one flew here, the other there, sometimes 

 knocking their heads against the fence, and at others against 

 the sides of the house, whence they fell backwards to the 

 ground ; and being at length quite exhausted, they were all 

 nineteen in number captured by the hand. They were 

 afterwards put into coops, and fattened ; and when finally 

 slaughtered, they assisted in no small degree in provisioning 

 the household." 



