WILD GOOSE. 5^9 



part of the tail are pure white : the legs are yel- 

 lowish flesh-colour. The female is always smaller, 

 the neck more slender, and the grey on the plumage 

 more distinct : but in very old individuals of both 

 sexes there occur several irregular patches of blackish- 

 brown feathers on the breast and belly. 



In a wild state this bird inhabits the marshy lakes 

 and seas of the eastern parts of Europe and the we.t 

 of Africa, but rarely appears beyond the ood degree 

 of latitude : it is very numerous in Germany and to- 

 wards the central parts of Europe, but becomes rarer 

 as we advance towards the west ; occurring compa- 

 ratively but seldom in France and Holland. In some 

 parts of Britain, however, it was formerly very abun- 

 dant, especially in the fens of Lincolnshire ; the 

 draining and cultivation of which have entirely de- 

 populated those places of their native inhabitants ; 

 but in lieu thereof these swamps are now teeming 

 with them in a domesticated and highly improved 

 condition. 



The Wild Goose lays from six to eight, sometimes 

 ten or a dozen dirty green eggs, placed in a nest 

 among rushes, heaths, and other elevated shrubs : the 

 tame variety often lays a greater number, and some- 

 times a second time in the season, which last are sel- 

 dom allowed to be hatched, but are used for domestic 

 purposes. 



Wild Geese are regularly seen migrating south- 

 ward in the autumn, and northward in the spring, 

 oftentimes in flocks of from fifty to a hundred, flying 

 at great heights, and seldom resting by day : their 

 cry is frequently heard while they are imperceptible 



