8 CANADA GOOSE. 



years in succession to a large pond a few miles from the mouth of 

 Green River in Kentucky, and whenever I visited the nest, it seemed to 

 look upon me with utter contempt. It would stand in a stately attitude, 

 until I reached within a few yards of the nest, when suddenly lowering 

 its head, and shaking it as if it were dislocated from the neck, it would 

 open its wings, and launch into the air, flying directly at me. So daring 

 was this fine fellow, that in two instances he struck me a blow with one 

 of his wings on the right arm, which, for an instant, I thought, was 

 broken. I observed that immediately after such an effort to defend his 

 nest and mate, he would run swiftly towards them, pass his head and neck 

 several times over and around the female, and again assume his attitude 

 of defiance. 



Always intent on making experiments, I thought of endeavouring to 

 conciliate this bold son of the waters. For this purpose I always after- 

 wards took with me several ears of corn, which I shelled, and threw towards 

 him. It remained untouched for several days ; but I succeeded at last, 

 and before the end of a week both birds fed freely on the grain even 

 in my sight ! I felt much pleasure on this occasion, and repeating my 

 visit daily, found, that before the eggs were hatched, they would allow 

 me to approach within a few feet of them, although they never suffered 

 me to touch them. Whenever I attempted this the male met my fingers 

 with his bill, and bit me so severely that I gave it up. The great 

 beauty and courage of the male rendered me desirous of obtaining pos- 

 session of him. I had marked the time at which the young were likely 

 to appear, and on the preceding day I baited with corn a large coop 

 made of twine, and waited until he should enter. He walked in, I 

 <lrew the string, and he was my prisoner. The next morning the female 

 was about to lead her offspring to the river, which was distant nearly half 

 a mile, when I caught the whole of the young birds, and with them the 

 mother too, who came within reach in attempting to rescue one of her 

 brood, and had them taken home. There I took a cruel method of pre- 

 venting their escape, for with a knife I pinioned each of them on the 

 same side, and turned them loose in my garden, where I had a small but 

 convenient artificial pond. For more than a fortnight, both the old birds 

 appeared completely cowed. Indeed, for some days I felt apprehensive 

 that they would abandon the care of the young ones. However, with 

 much attention, I succeeded in rearing the latter by feeding them abun- 

 dantly with the larva; of locusts, which they ate greedily, as well as with 

 corn-meal moistened with water, and the whole flock, consisting of eleven 



