362 WILD GEESE. 



species, is more easily tamed than some others, particularly 

 if taken young. Not but that some of this race may be 

 domesticated. In America, where vast nights pass to the 

 northward to breed, the people shoot them in great numbers ; 

 and as many, owing to their wide spread of wing, are often 

 merely pinioned, they are kept alive, and in process of time 

 have been made so tame, that having been let out in the 

 morning, they returned in the evening. Several have been 

 thus kept for many years ; but, although they constantly 

 associated with the farm-yard Geese, they were never known 

 to breed with them. Under particular circumstances, a wild 

 Goose has, indeed, been known to throw itself under the 

 protection of man. Thus an officer settled on a farm near 

 the Missouri, in North America, one day, when walking 

 near the banks of the river, observed a large Eagle fre- 

 quently darting towards the water, and then rising again. 

 On a near approach, he perceived that its object was to take 

 a wild Goose, which had alighted on the water, and which 

 was diving to avoid so powerful an enemy. Its efforts, how- 

 ever, appeared to be in vain, and after diving again and 

 again, and as often rising to get breath, it became nearly 

 exhausted ; when suddenly turning, it made for the shore 

 with all speed towards the officer's house, where two men 

 were at work ; and, as soon as it had landed, walked leisurely 

 up to them, permitting itself to be taken without attempting 

 to escape. It was completely exhausted, but soon recovered, 

 and within three days seemed quite contented, and confident 

 of protection. 



Amongst other species of wild Geese, there is one called 

 the Bernacle, or Tree-Goose (Anas erythropus), which we 

 shall mention on account of the extraordinary origin imputed 

 to it, not only by ignorant, but even by some better informed 

 people, in former days ; and which may be adduced as one, 

 amongst very many instances, of the advantages of know- 

 ledge in separating truth from error. 



It will scarcely be now-a-days believed, that this Ber- 

 nacle, or Tree -Goose, actually derived its name from a very 

 general belief, that, instead of being hatched, like other 



