AGE THE GOOSE-PIT. 115 



and stupidity of unconcern. At St. Petersburg, in 

 Russia, says Dr. Granville, they have no cock-pits, 

 but they have a goose-pit! where, in the spring, 

 they fight ganders, trained to the sport, and so peck 

 at each other's shoulders till they draw blood. 

 These ganders have been sold as high as five hun- 

 dred roubles each ; and the sport prevails to a degree 

 of enthusiasm among the hemp -merchants. Strange 

 that the vicious and inhuman curiosity of man can 

 delight to arouse and stimulate the principles of 

 enmity and cruelty, in these apparently peaceful and 

 sociable birds. There is, however, remarked to be 

 a natural antipathy between the game-cock and 

 gander. As another example of the native courage 

 of this bird several years past, some geese were 

 feeding near Congleton, Cheshire, opposite the tithe- 

 barn doors, having a sparrow for their companion. 

 Suddenly, a hawk pounced upon the sparrow, 

 when a gander flew to his relief, arid laid the hawk 

 prostrate. 



It has been remarked by naturalists, that the 

 goose and the eagle, to which should have been added 

 the swan, are, as far as it is known, the longest lived 

 of the feathered tribe ; and, in addition to the in- 

 stances above given of the longevity of the former, it 

 is a well authenticated fact, that, in 1824, there was 

 a goose living in the possession of Mr. Hewson, of 

 Glenham, near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, which 

 was then upwards of a century old. It had been 

 throughout that term in the constant possession of 

 Mr. Hewson's forefathers and himself: and, on 

 quitting his farm, he would not suffer it to be sold 



