BRITISH BIRDS. 113 



flock of more than 1000 Geese; and an instance is recorded of a cottager, 

 whose rental did not exceed £5, who kept 1500 breedino; Geese. The atten- 

 tion during incubation required much judgment; houses were erected con- 

 taining tiers of wicker nests, each bird having a separate nest. From these 

 parties were called down to feed and go to water. On their return the 

 gosherd replaced each Goose on her nest. To do this required a surprising 

 exercise of memory and observation." 



The scarcity of the Wild Goose now prevents the cheat mentioned 

 by Pennant and repeated by Bewick : — " The old Geese which are shot 

 are plucked and sold in the market as fine tame ones, and readily 

 bought, the purchasers being deceived by the size ; but their flesh is 

 coarse." 



Latham, in his ' General History of Birds,' vol. x. p. 253, note, says 

 (Sept. 2, 1783), "A drove of about 9000 Geese passed through Chelmsford, 

 on their way to London from Sufi"olk. They travel about eight or ten 

 miles per day." Also, " Henry V. attributes his victory at Agin- 

 court to the archers, and directs the sherives of many counties to pluck 

 from every Goose six wing-feathers, for the purpose of improving the 

 arrows." 



The cruel plan of nailing the Geese to the floor by the webs of the 

 toes, in order to fatten them, no longer exists ; it would not be allowed 

 in the present day. 



In 'A Hundred Years Ago,' by James Hutton, 1755 to 1756, p. 307, 

 the following anecdote occurs : — " My Lords Rockingham and Orford made 

 a match against each other for 500 guineas, as to whether five Turkeys or 

 five Geese would in the shortest time perform the journey from Norwich to 

 London." Rome was not saved by the Turkey, but by the Goose ; and the 

 author proceeds : — " The result vindicated Lord Orford's sagacity ! . . . for at 

 the first the Turkeys had it all their own way ; the Geese, however, waddled 

 past them at night, while they were lazily roosting in the trees beside the 

 hedo;erow^" 



