ORDER PALMIPEDES. 663 



Greenland, to tlie shores of the Frozen Ocean, and to Hud- 

 son's Bay, — where their fat and dung constitute a resource for 

 the hardy inhabitants. 



The geese have good sight, very fine hearing, and their 

 vigilance is so great that they are never taken at fault. While 

 they are eating, or sleeping, there is always a sentinel in the 

 troop, who, with his neck stretched out, and head in the air, 

 is ready to give the signal of danger. If we add to these 

 signs of intelligence, and to the remarks already made on the 

 arrangement of their order of flight, the signal proofs of attach- 

 ment, which domestic geese have exhibited on many occasions, 

 we shall perceive how little foundation there is for the popu- 

 lar opinion respecting their stupidity. This, indeed, appears 

 to have been formed merely on external characters ; on their 

 walk, their stretched out neck, gaping mouth, and the 

 sound of their voice, especially when they experience any 

 terror. 



As these birds fly remarkably high, and do not alight but 

 when they are over waters, there is considerable difficulty in 

 shooting them ; and their extreme distrust renders for the 

 most part all the stratagems employed by fowlers of no avail. 

 Our common application of the proverb, " a wild-goose 

 chase,"" sufficiently proves this, and ought to do away with 

 the vulgar prejudice respecting their stupidity. 



The domestic goose is so well known that it would be 

 superfluous to dwell upon it in detail, more especially as it 

 presents little interest under the head of natural history. We 

 may simply observe, that it lays in the month of March, and 

 that the incubation lasts one month. The flesh, though much 

 in request, cannot be considered as very wholesome or digesti- 

 ble. This bird is very long-lived. 



The Bernacles are separated by M. Cuvier from the 

 geese proper ; but there is nothing in their habits worthy of 

 detaining us here. 



