154 THE COMMON GOOSE. 



twenty-eight to thirty days, covering from 

 eleven to fifteen eggs. If well kept, she 

 will lay many more eggs than she can cov- 

 er, and bring forward two broods during a 

 year. They are scarcely profitable to keep 

 unless they have the range of an extensive 

 pasture or common, when they require no 

 other attention or food. In some parts of 

 England which are of a marshy description, 

 such as Lincolnshire, the raising of geese is 

 conducted on a large scale. The account 

 given by Pennant* of their management in 

 those countries is curious. 



" A single person has frequently a flock 

 of a thousand old geese, each of which will 

 rear seven, so that towards the end of the 

 year he will be master of eight thousand. 

 During the breeding season, these birds are 

 lodged in the same houses with the inhabi- 

 tants, and even in their very bedchambers ; 

 in every apartment are three rows of coarse 

 wicker pens, placed one above another. 

 Each bird has its separate lodge divided 

 from the other, which it keeps possession of 



* Tour in Scotland, p. 8. 



