214 A HISTORY OF 



equal the goose in size, which sometimes happens, y-et there are stiH 

 other sufficient distinctions. 



But they all agree in many particulars ; and have a nearer affinity 

 to each other than the neighbouring kinds in any other department. 

 Their having been tamed, has produced alterations in each, by which 

 they differ as much from the wild ones of their respective kinds, as 

 they do among themselves. There is nearly as much difference be- 

 ween the wild and the tame duck, as between some sorts of the duck 

 and the goose; but still the characteristics of the kind are strongly 

 marked and obvious ; and this tribe can never be mistaken. 



The bill is the first great obvious distinction of the goose kind from 

 all of the feathered tribe. In other birds it is round and wedge-like, 

 or crooked at the end. In all the goose kind it is flat and broad, 

 made for the purpose of skimming ponds and lakes of the mantling 

 weeds that stand on the surface. The bills of other birds are made 

 of a horny substance throughout ; these have their inoffensive bills 

 sheathed with a skin which covers them all over. The bill of every 

 other bird seems, in some measure, formed for piercing or tearing ; 

 theirs are only fitted for shovelling up their food, which is chiefly of 

 .he vegetable kind. 



Though these birds do not reject animal food when offered them, 

 yet they can contentedly subsist upon vegetables, and seldom seek 

 any other. They are easily provided for ; .wherever there is water, 

 there seems to be plenty. All the other web-footed tribes are con- 

 tinually voracious, continually preying. These lead more harmless 

 lives : the weeds on the surface of the water, or the insects at the 

 bottom, the grass by the bank, or the fruits and corn in cultivateo 

 grounds, are sufficient to satisfy their easy appetites : yet these, like 

 every other animal, will not reject flesh, if properly prepared for them; 

 it is sufficient praise to them that they do not eagerly pursue it. 



As their food is chiefly vegetables, so their fecundity is in proper 

 tion. We have had frequent opportunities to observe, that all the 

 oredatory tribes, whether of birds or quadrupeds, are barren and un- 

 fruitful. We have seen the lion with its two cubs ; the eagle with 

 the same number ; and the penguin with even but one. Nature, that 

 has supplied them with powers of destruction, has denied them ferti- 

 lity But it is otherwise with these harmless animals I am describing. 

 They seem formed to fill up the chasms in Animated Nature, caused 

 by the voraciousness of others. They breed in great abundance, and 

 lead their young to the pool the instant they are excluded. 



As their fbod is simple, so their flesh is nourishing and wholesome. 

 The swan was considered as a high delicacy among the ancients ; the 

 goose was abstained from as totally indigestible. Modern manners 

 have inverted tastes ; the goose is now become the favourite ; and the 

 swan is seldom brought to table, unless for the purposes of ostenta- 

 tion. But at all times the flesh of the duck was in high esteem ; the 

 ancients thought even more highly of it than we do. We are con- 

 tented to eat it as a delicacy ; they also considered it as a medicine ; 

 and Plutarch assures us, that Cato kept his whole family in health, 

 oy feeding them with duck whenever they threatened to be out of 

 order 



