210 EEMINISCEIS^CES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



The hill is large and elevated, of a yellowish flesh 

 colour, with the nail white ; the head and neck are 

 cinereous, mixed with dusky yellow ; the hind part of 

 the neck of a pale grey, rather striped, and at the base 

 of a brownish grey ; breast and belly whitish, clouded 

 with grey, or ash colour ; back and primaries grey, the 

 last tipped with black and edged with white ; second- 

 aries black, grey only at their base ; lesser coverts dusky 

 white, the middle row deep cinereous, slightly edged 

 with white ; the tail coverts and vent feathers of a pure 

 white ; middle feathers of the tail dusky, tipped with 

 white ; the exterior almost entirely white ; the legs 

 flesh coloured ; claws black. This species is found in our 

 fens, and it is generally supposed not to migrate, as in 

 some countries on the continent, but breed in our fens. 

 They sit thirty days, and hatch eight or nine young, 

 which are often taken, and are considered very good for 

 the table, and are easily domesticated. Daniel mentions 

 that he took two broods of young wild geese in one 

 season, which he turned down amongst tame ones. 

 Both parties were at first very shy of each other, but 

 they soon began to associate, and in a short time became 

 very good friends. The old geese that are shot are sold, 

 but their flesh is coarse. They unite in large flocks 

 during winter, changing their station in search of food, 

 and are very destructive to the growing corn in the 

 fields where they happen to halt in their migratory ex- 

 cursions. At these times they are extremely wary and 

 vigilant, and have always a sentinel on the watch, who, 

 in case of danger, gives a warning whistle to those that 

 are feeding ; and as they feed in the day it is extremely 

 difficult to get within shot of them, for the instant they 

 bear the whistle they erect their heads and take to flight. 



