276 THE GOOSE. 



was suffered to keep any of these birds unless his an- 

 nual income amounted to five marks. The swan is al- 

 lowed to be remarkable for its longevity ; and Wil- 

 loughby seems to think it will live three hundred years. 



OF THE GOOSE, AND ITS VARIETIES. 



The goose, in a domestic state, exhibits a variety of 

 colours, but the wild goose always retains the same 

 marks ; the whole of the upper feathers are ash-co- 

 loured, whilst the breast and belly are of a dirty white : 

 the bill is narrow at the base, and black at the tip ; the 

 legs are yellow, and it is not quite so large as the tame. 

 The wild goose is supposed to breed in the northern 

 parts of Europe, and in the beginning of winter to de- 

 scend into more temperate climes ; they are often seen 

 flying at very great heights, in flocks from fifty to a 

 hundred at a time, and seldom resting during the day. 

 Their cry is frequently heard when they are at an imper- 

 ceptible distance ; and when they alight, they arrange 

 themselves in a line, exactly in the same manner as 

 cranes. 



The bill of the tame goose is completely red, and 

 the legs of a darkish brown ; and both wild and tame 

 have a white ring round their tail, which shews that 

 they originally were'of the same breed. 



The barnacle diners from both, not being equal in 

 size, and having a much shorter bill ; it is scarcely ne- 

 cessary to combat the idle error of this bird's being 

 hatched from a shell that adheres to the bottom of 

 ships. 



The brent goose, in size, resembles the Muscovy 

 duck, though the body is longer made; the head, neck, 

 and upper part of the breast, are black; and about the 

 middle of the neck are two small spots or rings of white. 



