Food. 
262 NATATORES. ANSER. WiLp Goose. 
from six to twelve eggs of a sullied white. Its food consists 
principally of the various grasses of the moist and marshy 
tracts it affects, though it eats grain with avidity. It is also 
very fond of the tender blades of wheat, &c., and often, 
during its periodical visits, does considerable damage to corn 
fields in an early stage of growth. Being a bird of great 
shyness and vigilance, it can only be approached by stealth, 
and with the utmost caution; this is generally effected by 
that mode of fowling called stalking, in which a horse is so 
trained, as, hiding the person of the fowler, to advance by 
degrees, and in an easy and natural manner, upon the flock, 
as they are at rest or feeding on the ground. In the latter 
state, which only occurs during the day-time, sentinels (oc- 
casionally relieved) are always on the watch to give notice of 
approaching danger, which they do, on the slightest suspi- 
cion, by a cry of alarm ; and immediately the whole flock 
take wing, with an alertness and rapidity that could scarcely 
be expected in birds of such bulky appearance. At night 
they generally retire to the water for repose, but the same 
watchful attention to safety is maintained by sentinels, that 
distinguishes their conduct during the day. They usually 
fly at a great height in the air, moving either in a single dia- 
gonal line, or in two lines forming an angle, or inverted V. 
In this order the office of leader is taken by turns, the fore- 
most, when fatigued, retiring to the rear, and allowing the 
next in station to lead the flight. It is generally admitted 
that our race of domestic Geese has originally sprung from 
this species, and however altered they may now appear in 
bulk, colour, or habits, the essential characters remain the ° 
same; no disinclination to breed with each other is evinced 
between them, and the offspring of wild and domesticated 
birds are as prolific as their mutual parents. The value of 
this species in its present domestic state, not only as food, 
but from the various uses to which its covering applies, is too 
well known for me to dwell upon ; and as these points, along 
with the rearing and management of the bird, have been 
