26 ANATID^. 



Of the birds mentioned in the preceding instances, those which 

 occurred in 1838 are the most likely to liave been truly wild, as 

 that winter (1837-38) was quite remarkable for the number of 

 Anatidce — swans, geese, and ducks — which, in the severe portion 

 of it, visited Great Britain and temperate Europe. The occur- 

 rence of the species, however, on the continental coasts of Europe, 

 is not noticed in the works of Temminck, Keyserling and Blasius, 

 or Schlegel. Much information respecting this goose is brought 

 forward in Yarrell's 'British Birds' (vol. iii. p. 91); since the 

 publication of which, Mr. Waterton has, in the second series of 

 liis 'Essays on Natural History' (p. 107), given a very inter- 

 esting account of it at Walton Hall. Wilson, commencing his 

 description with, " This is the common wild goose of the United 

 States," treats very pleasingly of the species (vol. iii. p. 71?, Jar- 

 dine's edit.), in which Audubon follows him, devoting seventeen 

 pages to its habits (vol. iii. p. 1). 



The Canada goose, being kept on ponds in the neighbour- 

 hood of Belfast, has, in a semi-domestic state, been long familiar 

 to me. It is a spirited, bold species, and remarkably vigilant, more 

 so even than the common goose. Its loud clanging note is 

 heard at a great distance ; and when given fortli in the spring, 

 sans intermission, often proves more deafening than agreeable to 

 persons near to it. This is the boldest of birds in spring, next 

 to the tame swan ; and when paired, the gander will attack every 

 living creature, not excepting man liimseK, that approaches the 

 neighbourhood of his watery domain. The first bird of the 

 species known to me was a goose, which, in the absence of a 

 mate of her own kind, paired with a common gander, and pro- 

 duced numerous young. Some years afterwards a male of her 

 own species was procured, with whom she associated ; but though 

 eggs were laid, they were not prolific, probably in consequence of 

 her age. This male bird was one of a flock of six or seven, which 

 visited Ballantrae, on the coast of Ayrshire, where he was cap- 

 tured, though having the full use of his wings. He was brought 

 here by a friend on returning from shooting, in the autumn, and 



