156 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. — [cwap. xix. 
quite relieved at his departure, and recommenced feeding. I 
cocked my gun and arranged my ambuscade, so as to be ready 
for them when they came opposite to me; presently one or two 
stragglers passed within ten yards; I pulled the dead grass in 
front of my face, so that they could not see me, and waited for 
the main flock, who soon came by, feeding hurriedly as they 
passed ; when they were opposite to me, I threw down part of the 
clods and grass that concealed me, and fired both barrels at the 
thickest part of the flock: three fell dead, and two others 
dropped before the flock had flown many hundred yards. Simon 
ran from his hiding-place to secure them; one was dead, the 
other rose again, but was stopped by a charge from his gun. 
Our five geese were no light load to carry home, as they had 
been feeding on the corn for a fortnight or three weeks, and had 
become very fat and heavy. 
The common grey goose, after having fed for some time in the 
fresh-sown corn-fields, is by no means a bad bird for the larder. 
But before they can procure grain to feed on, their flesh is neither 
so firm nor so well flavoured. In this country there are three 
kinds of geese, all called by the common name of “ wild geese,” 
namely, the white-fronted goose, already mentioned; the com- 
mon grey-leg goose, dnas Anser; and the bean-goose. The 
latter kind differs from the grey goose in having a small black 
mark at the end of their bill, about the size and colour ofa 
horse-bean. ‘This bird, too, differs in being rather smaller and 
more dark in its general colour than the grey goose. It is a 
great libel to accuse a goose of being a silly bird. Even a tame 
goose shows much instinct and attachment; and were its habits 
more closely observed, the tame goose would be found to be by 
no means wanting in general cleverness. Its watchfulness at 
nighttime is, aud always has been, proverbial ; and it certainly is 
endowed with a strong organ of self-preservation. You may 
drive over dog, cat, hen, or pig; but I defy you to drive over a 
tame goose. As for wild geese, I know of no animal, biped or 
quadruped, that is so difficult to deceive or approach. Their 
senses of hearing, seeing, and smelling are all extremely acute ; 
independently of which, they appear to act in so organized and 
cautious a manner when feeding or roosting, as to defy all danger. 
Many a time has my utmost caution been of no avail in attempts 
