THE CANADA GOOSE. 395 



attention, and from representations of birds, which I have lately 

 examined very closely, I pronounce ornithology to be at least half 

 a century behind the other sciences. I say nothing of the stuffing 

 of birds for cabinets of natural history. Were I to touch upon the 

 mode now in general use, I should prove it to be a total failure, 

 devoid of every scientific principle a mode that can never, by any 

 chance, restore the true form and features of birds. But to return 

 to the wigeon. I will just add, in conclusion, that I penned down 

 the remarks on its habits, after many very close and often-repeated 

 inspections of the bird, during its winter residence amongst us. I 

 fear, however, that we must be contented to remain in absolute 

 ignorance of many important points of its history, until some bold or 

 hardy naturalist shall penetrate into those distant regions of the 

 north, where this pretty bird, in company with myriads of other wild 

 fowl, is supposed to pass the summer months in undisturbed 

 security. 



THE CANADA GOOSE. 



** Mopso Nisa datur, quid non speremus amantes?" 



VIRGIL. 



THE fine proportions of this stately foreigner, its voice, and flavour 

 of its flesh are strong inducements for us all to hope that erelong it 

 will become a naturalised bird throughout the whole of Great Britain. 

 I stop not to give a detailed description of its plumage ; that has 

 already been performed by many able hands. Suffice it then to say, 

 that its beautiful black neck and white cheeks render it so particu- 

 larly conspicuous, that those who have seen it once will never be at 

 a loss to recognise it, when viewed amongst all other species of the 

 goose tribe. 



Towards the close of the last century, thirteen of these birds were 

 to be seen on this sheet of water. My father had taken the precau- 

 tion to have them pinioned, in order to insure their permanent stay 

 with him; and they were known by no other name than that of 



