THE GOOSE. 



229 



that they are both descended from the same 

 original. 



The wild goose is supposed to breed in the 

 northern parts of Europe ; and, in the begin- 

 ning of winter, to descend into more temperate 

 regions. They are often seen flying at very 

 great heights, in flocks from fifty to a hun- 

 dred, and seldom resting by day. Their cry 

 is frequently heard when they are at an im- 

 perceptible distance above us; and this seems 

 bandied from one to the other, as among 

 hounds in the pursuit. Whether this be the 

 note of mutual encouragement, or the neces- 

 sary consequence of respiration, is doubtful; 

 but they seldom exert it when they alight in 

 these journeys. 



Upon their coming to the ground by day, 

 they range themselves in a line, like cranes ; 

 and seem rather to have descended for rest, 

 than for otiier refreshment. When they have 

 sat in this manner for an hour or two, I have 

 heard one of them, with a loud long note, 

 sound a kind of charge, to which the rest 

 punctually attended, and they pursued their 

 journey with renewed alacrity. Their flight 

 is very regularly arranged ; they either go in 

 a line abreast, or in two lines, joining in an 

 angle in the middle. I doubt whether the 

 form of their flight be thus arranged to cut 

 the air with greater ease, as is commonly be- 

 lieved ; I am more apt to think it is to pre- 

 sent a smaller mark to fowlers from below. 

 A bullet might easily reach them if huddled 

 together in a flock, and the same discharge 

 might destroy several at once ; but, by their 

 manner of flying, no shot from below can 

 affect above one of them ; and from the 

 height at which they fly this is not easy to 

 be hit. 



The Barnacle differs, in some respects, from 

 both these ; being less than either, with a 

 black bill, much shorter than either of the 

 preceding. It is scarcely necessary to combat 

 the idle error of this bird's being bred from a 

 shell sticking to ships' bottoms; it is well 

 known to be hatched from an egg in the 

 ordinary manner, and to differ in very few 

 particulars from all the rest of its kind. 



The Brent goose is still less than the for- 

 mer, and not bigger than a Muscovy duck, 

 except that the body is longer. The head, 

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

 but about the middle of the neck, on each 

 side, are two small spots or lines of white, 

 which together appear like a ring. 



breed annually in Harris, and some of the other outer- 

 most Western islands. The nest is made in the marshy 

 grounds, and formed of grasses and other dry vegetable 

 materials ; the eggs are white, and from eight to twelve 

 in number. Among the other winter visitants to this 

 island, are the White-fronted Goose, the Barnacle 

 Goose, the Brent Goose, and the Red-breasted Goose. 



These, and many other varieties, are found 

 in this kind, which agree in one common 

 character of feeding upon vegetables, and 

 being remarkable for their fecundity. 1 Of 



The Canadian Goose, (see Plate XIX. fig. 26.) 

 The Canadian goose is somewhat larger than our com- 

 mon domesticated breed. It is also slenderer in its 

 make and especially in its neck, which consequently 

 approaches more nearly to that of the swan. The en- 

 tire length of the bird is about three feet, and the expanse 

 of its wings rather more than five. The back and wing- 

 coverts are of a dull brown, with a whitish tip to each 

 of the feathers ; the quill-feathers of the wings and tail 

 black; the sides pale ashy brown ; and the upper part 

 of the head and neck black, with_a broad patch of white 

 spreading from the throat on either side over the lower 

 part of the cheeks. By this latter character, which is 

 extremely obvious, this species may at all times be 

 readily distinguished. Its bill is black: its iris dark 



zel; and its legs and feet grayish-black, or lead- 

 coloured. There is little or no distinction in plumage 

 between the two sexes. Although commonly known by 

 the name of Canada geese, these birds are by no means 

 confined to that country, but extend their migrations 

 from the lowest latitudes of the United States to the 

 highest parallels that have yet been visited in the nor- 

 thern regions of America. Throughout the whole of 

 this vast extent of territory they are familiarly known 

 as the harbingers of spring when passing to the north, 

 and the presage of approaching winter on their return. 

 In the United States it is the popular belief that their 

 journeys are bounded by the great chain of lakes, in the 

 islands of which they are supposed to breed ; but even on 

 the shores of Hudson's bay they are still found to be pro- 

 ceeding northwards, and they rarely nest further south 

 than 60 deg. Captain Phipps mentions having seen 

 wild geese at Spitzbergen, in more than 80 deg. of lati- 

 tude ; and Wilson deems it " highly probable that they 

 extend their migrations under the very pole itself, amid 

 the silent desolation of unknown countries, shut out 

 since the creation from the prying eye of man by ever- 

 lasting and insuperable bars of ice." 



The passage of the geese to the north commences 

 with the breaking up of the ice, their first appearance 

 in Canada and on the shores of Hudson's bay varying 

 with the forwardness of the spring, from the middle of 

 April to the latter end of May. Their flight is heavy 

 and laborious, but moderately swift, in a straight line 

 when their number is but few, but more frequently in 

 two lines meeting in a point in front. The van is said 

 to be always led by an old gander, in whose wake the 

 others instinctively follow. But should his sagacity fail 

 in discovering the land -marks by which they usually 

 steer, as sometimes happens in foggy weather, the whole 

 flock appear in the greatest distress, and fly about in an 

 irregular manner, making a great clamour. In their 

 flights they cross indiscriminately over land or water, 

 differing in this respect from several other geese, which 

 prefer making a circuit by water to traversing the land. 

 They also pass far inland, instead of confining their 

 course to the neighbourhood of the sea. So important is 

 the arrival of the geese to the inhabitants of these nor- 

 thern regions that the month in which they first make 

 their appearance is termed by the Indians, as we are 

 informed by Pennant, the goose moon. In fact not only 

 the Indians, but the English settlers also, depend greatly 

 upon these birds for their subsistence, and many thou- 

 sands of them are annually killed, a large proportion of 

 which are salted and barrelled for winter consumption. 

 Many too that are killed on their return, after the com- 

 mencement of the frost, are suffered to freeze, and are 

 thus kept as fresh provision for several months. Others, 

 either taken young or wounded, are frequently detained 



