Class II. GREY LAG GOOSE. 231 



and quils, and the same is renewed four times 

 more between that and Michaelmas, for feathers 

 only. The old geese submit quietly to the 

 operation, but the young ones are very noisy 

 and unruly. I once saw this performed, and 

 observed, that goslins of six weeks old were not 

 spared; for their tails were plucked, as I was - 

 told, to habituate them early to what they were 

 to come to. If the season prove cold, num- 

 bers of the geese die by this barbarous custom. 

 When the flocks are numerous, about ten 

 pluckers are employed, each Avith a coarse 

 apron up to his chin. 



Vast numbers of geese are driven annu- 

 ally to London to supply the markets, among 

 them all the superannuated geese and ganders 

 (called here Cagmags) which, by a long course x 



of plucking, prove uncommonly tough and dry. 



The feathers are a considerable article of com- 

 merce ; those from Somersetshire are esteemed 

 the best, and those from Ireland the worst. / 



It will not here be foreign to the subject to 

 give some account of the feathers that other birds 

 and other countries supply our island with, which 

 was communicated to us by an intelligent person 

 in the feather trade. 



Eider down is imported from Denmark; the 

 ducks that supply it being inhabitants of Hiid- 



