CHAP. XI.] FARMING FOR LADIES. ^ 241 



the colour : only looking to their being well 

 feathered, full sized and round in the body, 

 short legged, and broad footed, with a head 

 carried high, a lively eye, and a general ap- 

 pearance of health. The breed just described 

 is the one most commonly reared in this coun- 

 try ; though a few varieties, such as the Emh- 

 den, the Spanish, and the Canadian species, 

 are bred by a few persons, and esteemed either 

 for their real or supposed superiority. 



Geese are, when just hatched, called 

 " gulls ;" then, immediately afterwards, and 

 until they become feathered, " goslings/' and 

 " green geese" when a few weeks old, and fit 

 for the table. After harvest, farmers usually 

 turn them upon those fields fi'om which corn 

 has been reaped, after which they acquire the 

 name of " stubble-geese ;" and about the 

 month of October, at which time they are full 

 grown, they are termed "Michaelmas-geese:" 

 inconsequence, as it is said, of Queen Elizabeth 

 having, on her way to Tilbury Fort, dined on 

 the 29th of September, 1589, at the ancient 

 seat of Sir N. Umfreville, near the place, and 

 was, it seems, eating heartily of roasted goose, 

 when a messenger arrived with the intelligence 



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