BMDEN OEESIL 



GEESE, 



The common goose has long been one of our most useful do* 

 mestio ammarls; so long, indeed, that history is altogether 

 silent on the subject, and fails to record the date when it first 

 became a companion of man in this country. Julius Csesar 

 found the goose as well as the Briton when he visited us ; and 

 there is an old legend which relates that one of the former gave 

 him more disquiet than all the hosts of his enemies. One night, 

 while the Bomans were encamped in great numbers, and the 

 general was alone in his tent, reading some secret document, 

 which, if perused by any other eye, might have cost him his 

 head, he was suddenly startled by some one at his elbow, and, 

 turning round in the utmost dismay, found a goose gravely 

 conning the traitorous document. 



Amongst the ancients, the goose was reckoned a sacred bird, 

 and dedicated to that interesting mythological personage. 

 Queen Juno. Pliny makes mention of the goose, and relates 

 an instance of its affection, which is very interesting. A phi- 

 losopher, named Lacydes, possessed one of these birds, which 

 was remarkably attached to him ; and when at study, in his 

 own house, the faithful creature was always at his side. If he 

 ventured abroad, to the public disputations or elocutions, the 

 goose followed him, remained near him while delivering his 

 orations, or paying his addresses to his feUow-citizens, and 

 then returned home with him. At last the goose died, much 

 to the sorrow of the unhappy philosopher, who, imagining that 

 this extraordinaiy devotedness was connected with religious 



