THE WILD GOOSE. 317 



States, though, as a matter of fact, the great body of 

 them breed in the British Possessions. In all other 

 respects, the habits of the two varieties are identical. 

 Years ago, the Canadas bred in considerable numbers on 

 the northern tributaries of the Mississippi and Missouri 

 Rivers, but the rapid settlement of the country has driven 

 them farther north, except in rare instances, so that it 

 is safe to say that, in these days, no variety of the goose 

 family breeds within the boundaries of the United States. 



The common wild goose is easily reared in captivity, 

 but never becomes thoroughly domesticated. Unless 

 their wings are clipped, they will at the first opportunity 

 join some passing flock. They cross readily with domestic 

 geese, and the flesh of the cross-bred bird is the superior 

 of either the wild or native. When three years old, in 

 captivity, they lay from three to five eggs, and gradually 

 increase the number as they grow older. In their wild 

 state, they frequently nest in trees. 



The Canadas are the last of the geese or brant to 

 come down from the North in the fall, and the first to 

 arrive from the South in the spring, often coming before 

 the ponds, lakes, and rivers are open sufiiciently to wet 

 their feet. 



The Canada goose lives to a great age — 100 years, it 

 is said. I believe it. I have eaten them — or tried to. 

 A yound wild goose — Canada, Hutchins, white-fronted, 

 or snow -goose, or brant — is delicious eating, however, 

 when properly baked; but the trouble of it is, sometimes, 

 a novice can not distinguish an old bird from a young 

 one, and when it comes to picking out a young goose 

 from a mixed lot of Canadas and Hutchins, it becomes a 

 most diflicult task, one is so liable to select an old 

 Hutchins goose for a young Canada. 



Standing on a bluff of old Lake Erie, thirty -five miles 

 east of Cleveland, one cold March morning way back in 



