J86 TREE-GOOSE. 



North America, one day, when walking near the 

 banks of the river, ohserved a large Eagle fre- 

 quently darting towards the water, and then rising 

 again. On a near approach, he perceived that its 

 object was to take a wild Goose, which had alighted 

 on the water, and which was diving to avoid so 

 powerful an enemy. Its efforts, however, appeared 

 to be vain, and after diving again and again, and 

 as often rising to get breath, it became nearly ex- 

 hausted ; when suddenly turning, it made for the 

 shore with all speed, towards the officer's house, 

 where two men were at work; and as soon as it 

 had landed, walked leisurely up to them, permitting 

 itself to be taken, without attempting to escape. 

 It was completely exhausted, but soon recovered, 

 and, within three days, seemed quite contented and 

 confident of protection. 



Amongst other species of wild Geese, there is one 

 called the Bernacle or Tree- Goose (Anas erythro- 

 pus\ which we shall mention on account of the ex- 

 traordinary origin imputed to it, not only by igno- 

 rant, but even by some better-informed people, in 

 former days; and which may be adduced as one, 

 amongst very many instances, of the advantages of 

 knowledge, in separating truth from error 



It will scarcely be now-a-days believed, that this 

 Bernacle, or Tree-Goose, actually derived its name 

 from a very general belief, that, instead of being 

 hatched, like other birds, from an egg, it was pro- 

 duced from a shell which grew on trees and rotten 

 wood ; and the shell was, therefore, called the 

 Goose-bearing shell (Lepas anatifera). For this 

 foolish idea there was no other foundation than 



