CHAPTER XXX. 



WILD-GOOSE SHOOTING. 



" In this late dearth of wit, when Jose and Jack 

 Were hunger-bit for want of fowl and sack, 

 His noblenesse found out this happy meanes 

 To mend their dyet with these wild-goose scenes." 



Epigram on Wild-goose Chase. 



THE subject of wild-goose shooting has already been partially dis- 

 cussed in this treatise, under the different heads of punting ; and it 

 will also be generally treated under the title, " Wild-fowl Shooting 

 under Sail;" but there are many incidents connected with the sport 

 which require special notice under distinct heads, to which the atten- 

 tion of the sporting tyro is invited before he ventures on this attrac- 

 tive branch of our diversion. 



In former days wild-goose shooting was held in higher estimation 

 than the pursuit of any other species of water-fowl, apparently for 

 the very quaint and logical reasons stated below.* 



The BRENT GOOSE (Anser Brenta) is the smallest, most abundant, 

 and most delicate for the table, of the whole species of wild-geese. 

 It is more familiarly kn6wn in some districts on the English coast as 

 the " black-goose ;" which affords the fairest sport of any of 

 its tribe. The large gaggles of brent-geese which are sometimes 

 seen on the east and south-east coasts of this country, are truly aston- 

 ishing ; and in France and Ireland they are, in some seasons, very 

 numerous on various parts of those coasts. They are also abundant 

 in Hudson's Bay, Greenland, Spitzbergen, and other northern coun- 

 tries, whither they resort in their migrations : " Simili anseres quoque 

 olores ratione commeant sed horum volatus cernitur."f 



But notwithstanding that they are generally more numerous on some 



" What prayse soeuer is geuen to shooting, the goose may challenge the best 



part in it. How well doth she make a man fare at his table : How easely doth she 



make a man lye in his bed : How fitte euen as her fethers be only for shooting, so be 



her quilles fit only for wryting." Tftoopkilvt : ly /'/.//'' Ai*'-h"n. JiU: letter. 1589. 



f Pliny, lib. x. cap. xxiii. 



