RAISING OF WILD GEESE. 161 



rapidly taking the place of the old stock. 

 They are usually of a pure white, grow to a 

 much larger size, attaining the weight of 

 eighteen or twenty pounds, while the com- 

 mon gray goose averages from eight to ten 

 pounds only. They are also raised with 

 great ease, fatten readily with comparative- 

 ly less food, and have a very superior fla- 

 vour. 



Where one has access to, or control over a 

 large pond, the raising of wild geese (Anser 

 Canadensis) may be made profitable. When 

 they are turned in with the common goose, 

 the wild gander attaches himself to one exclu- 

 sively, and neglects all others ; the mongrel 

 produced between them is of a superior fla- 

 vour, and has a corresponding market value. 

 We know of some persons who keep wild 

 geese in lonely situations, and every year 

 contrive by these means to decoy flocks of 

 wild geese flying over in their annual mi- 

 grations. Mr. Nuttall relates an instance of 

 a female of this species which joined a party 

 of wild geese and disappeared until autumn ; 

 at length, out of a passing flock, the farmer 

 N 



