THE TAME GOOSE. 247 



it with her wings. During these useless movements the 

 invader seizes his prey with impunity." 



Ducks are sometimes fattened in confinement with 

 plenty of food and water ; and this plan has the ad- 

 vantage of restricting the birds to proper diet ; or they 

 will do well at greater liberty, but with access to as 

 much solid food as they can eat. Oats, either whole or 

 bruised, are better than barley for fattening ducks. 

 Pea-meal is also good. Ground malt mixed with water 

 or milk, is commonly used. Broth and pot-liquor may 

 be profitably used to mix up the food of these birds, 

 especially where they are prevented access to a pond. 



The water in duck-ponds is sometimes infested by a 

 dangerous enemy to the brood, namely, leeches, which 

 fasten on the feet of the young ducklings, and cause 

 their destruction. The way to get rid of these trouble- 

 some creatures is to stock the pond with tench and 

 other fish which feed on them. 



Another important tenant of the poultry-yard is the 

 GOOSE, a bird which ranked high in former times, and 

 is still a universal favourite. Geese are birds of the 

 north more than of the south, being very abundant in 

 polar countries. The structure of the goose adapts it 

 either for land or water. The legs are not placed so far 

 back as those of the duck, and therefore the goose is a 

 much better walker than the duck. Geese in their wild 

 state are migratory birds, coming southward in winter, 

 and going back to their northern pastures in summer. 



The tame goose is sometimes of a fine pure white, 

 but oftener party-coloured, or grey mixed with white. 

 There are others entirely grey, and though the feathers 

 are less valuable, these are considered to be more fruit- 

 ful and to give the finest goslings. When domesticated 

 and well fed, geese become much larger than in their 

 natural wild state. These birds are very profitable in 

 the neighbourhood of commons, for they are more of 

 vegetable feeders than ducks, and must be allowed to 

 range the pastures. Although fond of marshes and 



