202 THE GOOSE. 



THJE GOOSE. 



The Goose tribe have strong, wide, and flat bills, 

 the upper mandible being a little longer than the lower 

 one, and ending in a blunt, round point, like the finger 

 nail. Both mandibles are furnished with small teeth, 

 like a saw, for the better holding their food. The 

 toes are four in number, three of which are united by 

 a membrane. Their necks are of considerable length, 

 but their legs are short, and fitted for swimming, rather 

 than walking. Some of this tribe, as the common 

 Goose, are domesticated, and live on corn, while oth- 

 ers remain wild, and eat roots, and small shell-fish, 

 which they gather from the water. 



THE WILD GOOSE. 



Hovr large is the Wild Goose ? 



The Wild Goose is three feet long, from the bill to 

 the end of the tail ; and with the wings spread, about 

 five feet in extent. 



What is the colour of this fowl ? 



In colour, the back part of the head and neck are 

 black ; the back is brown ; chin, and upper part of 

 the breast, white ; the under parts, pale brown. 



Where does the Wild Goose live ? 



The WiH Goose is very generally known through- 

 out the United States. It however, resides in the 

 country only during the winter. In the spring it mi- 

 grates to the north, and returns again on the com- 

 mencement of the cold season. 



Every person is acquainted with these birds, at 

 least so far as to have often witnessed their migratory 

 voyages in the spring and fall. Their flight is gene- 



