CANADA GOOSE. 7 



1819, I have met with the nests, eggs, and young of this species near 

 Henderson. However, as I have already said, the greater number re- 

 move far north to breed. I have never heard of an instance of their 

 breeding in the Southern States. Indeed, so uncongenial to their consti- 

 tution seems the extreme heat of these parts to be, that the attempts made 

 to rear them in a state of domestication very rarely succeed. 



The Canada Goose, when it remains with us to breed, begins to form 

 its nest in March, making choice of some retired place not far from the 

 water, generally anaong the rankest grass, and not unfrequently under a 

 bush. It is carefully formed of dry plants of various kinds, and is of a 

 large size, flat, and raised to the height of several inches. Once only did 

 1 find a nest elevated above the ground. It was placed on the stump of 

 a large tree, standing in the centre of a small pond, about twenty feet 

 high, and contained five eggs. As the spot was very secluded, I did not 

 disturb the birds, anxious as I was to see in what manner they should 

 convey the young to the water. But in this I was disappointed, for, on 

 going to the nest, near the time at which I expected the process of incu- 

 bation to terminate, I had the mortification to find that a racoon, or some 

 other animal, had destroyed the whole of the eggs, and that the birds had 

 abandoned the place. The greatest number of eggs which I have found 

 in the nest of this species was nine, which I think is more by three than 

 these birds usually lay in a wild state. In the nests of those which I 

 have had in a domesticated state, I have sometimes counted as many as 

 eleven, several of them, however, usually proving unproductive. The 

 eggs measure, on an average, S^ inches by 2^, are thick shelled, rather 

 smooth, and of a very dull yellowish- green colour. The period of incu- 

 bation is twenty-eight days. They never have more than one brood in a 

 season, unless their eggs are removed or broken at an early period. 



The young follow their parents to the water a day or two after they 

 have issued from the egg, but generally return to land to repose in the 

 sunshine in the evening, and pass the night there under their mother, who 

 employs all imaginable care to ensure their comfort and safety, as does 

 her mate, who never leaves her during incubation for a longer time than 

 is necessary for procuring food, and takes her place at intervals. Both 

 remain with their brood until the following spring. It is during the 

 breeding-season that the gander displays his courage and strength to the 

 greatest advantage. I knew one that appeared larger than usual, and of 

 which all the lower parts were of a rich cream colour. It returned three 



