THE AMERICAN WILI GOOSE. 235 



days, which is a shorter time than one would have 

 imagined. That circumstance alone, if correct, marks 

 a wide distinction. At a future time, probably, our 

 scientific naturalists will deem it advisable to institute 

 several new genera, for the reception of various water 

 fowls, that are now huddled into one or two ; particu- 

 larly if they allow the diet and habits of the birds, as 

 well as their external form, to influence the rules of 

 classification. 



In a state of nature, the Canada goose eats worms 

 and soft insects, as well as grass and aquatic plants, 

 which the typical, or geese proper, never do. In a 

 domestic or confined state, they do not breed till they 

 are at least two years old, and so far approach the swan, 

 like which, also, the male appears to be fit for reproduc- 

 tion earlier than the female. But Audubon says, " That 

 this tardiness is not the case in the wild state, I feel 

 pretty confident ; for I have observed, having broods of 

 their own, many individuals, which, by their size, the 

 dullness of their plumage, and such other marks as are 

 known to the practised ornithologist, I judged to be not 

 more than fifteen or sixteen months old. I have, there- 

 fore, thought that in this, as in many other species, a long 

 series of years is necessary for counteracting the original 

 wild and free nature which has been given them ; and 

 indeed, it seems probable that our attempts to domesti- 

 cate many species of wild fowls, which would prove 

 useful to mankind, have often been abandoned in despair, 

 when a few years more of constant care might have 

 produced the desired effect. " 



The Canada goose, in spite of its original migratory 

 habits, which it appears in almost every case to forget in 

 a reclaimed state, shows much more disposition for true 

 domestication than the swan, and may be maintained 

 in perfect health ' with very limited opportunities of 

 bathing. 



The manner in which these birds are usually kept in 

 Europe and this country, is neither consistent with their 

 natural habits, nor calculated to develope their useful- 

 ness and merit. They are mostly retained as orna- 

 ments to large parks or inclosures, where there is an 



