30 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



by the meanes of geese was defended and saved; 

 whereas at the same time, through the default of dogs 

 (which should have given warning) all had like to 

 have bin lost*." Julian again tells us that the Gauls 

 bribed the dogs of the capitol to silence with food, 

 which the geese refused arid screamed outf; and 

 hence it was inferred by Columella that geese are 

 preferable to dogs for watching a farm J, while Vege- 

 tius does not hesitate to assert that they are the most 

 vigilant sentinels that can be planted in a besieged 

 city. In this opinion most naturalists, from Al- 

 bertus Magnus and Aldrovand down to Buffon and 

 Bewick, concur. " It is certain," says the last, u that 

 nothing can stir in the night, nor the least or most 

 distant noise be made, but the geese are roused, and 

 immediately begin to hold their cackling converse ; 

 and, on the nearer approach of apprehended danger, 

 they set up their more shrill and clamorous cries ||." 



From the incident in the Roman history alone, 

 the goose has been rendered as famous for its quick- 

 ness of hearing as the eagle for acuteness of vision ^f, 

 though Caelius Rhodiginus thinks the wild boar may 

 dispute the palm with it**, Other authors attribute 

 the supposed vigilance of the goose to its acute smell ; 

 and Lucretius adopting this opinion says, " The white 

 goose, the preserver of the citadel of Romulus, scents 

 the odour of man at a great distance ft 5 and Isidore 

 echoes the same opinion JJ. 



But, whatever truth may be in the narratives given 

 by Livy and /Elian, we are quite certain that, so far 

 from possessing any superiority either in hearing or 

 smelling, the goose is much inferior to many other 



* Hist. Nat. x. 22, by Holland. f De Animal, xii. 33. 



J De Re Rustica. De Re Militar. iv. 26. 



j| Birds, 293, ed. 1826. ^[ Gelli, Circe. 



** Lect. Antiq. xx.' 1 ft De Rerum Natura/iv. 



H Etyraol. xii. 7. 



