162 THE WILD GOOSE. 



observed three geese to detach themselves 

 from their companions, and, after wheel- 

 ing round several times, alight in his barn- 

 yard, when, to his astonishment, he recog- 

 nised in one of the three his long-lost fugi- 

 tive, who had now returned, accompanied 

 by her offspring, to share the hospitality of 

 her former acquaintance. Many parallel 

 instances of this kind are on record. 



I know very little of the stately, swan- 

 like China goose, distinguished by the 

 horny knob on its bill. It is said to be very 

 prolific, and its meat to be well flavoured- 

 From the very few which I have seen about 

 farmyards, I should think that it was not 

 held in much estimation. 



The fat of the goose, commonly called 

 goose-grease, is considered to be peculiarly 

 subtile, penetrating, and resolvent, and is 

 generally carefully preserved for domestic 

 applications. 



Besides the ordinary diseases of geese, 

 which are similar to those of other domesti- 

 cated birds, and which are to be treated in 

 the same manner, they are subject to an- 



