462 DUCK. 



knowing them, treat them with fufficient kindnefs, lodging them 

 in the fame room with themfelves. During their fitting each bird 

 has its allotted fpace, in rows of wicker fens, placed one above 

 another ; and it is faid, that the perfon who takes charge of them 

 (called a Gvzzard, or Goofe-herd) twice in a day drives the whole 

 to water, and bringing them back to their habitations, places 

 every bird in its refpeclive neft, without miffing one *. 



It is fcarcely credible what numbers of Gecfe are driven from 

 the diftant counties to London for fale, frequently two or three 

 thoufand in a drove "j\ 



The common price of Geefe, in Wiltfhire, is regulated by that 

 of mutton, both being the fame by the pound, without the fea- 

 thers. The ufual weight of a fine Goofe is fifteen or fixteen 

 pounds ; but it is fcarce credible how far this may be encreafed 

 by cramming them with bean-meal, and other fattening diet. 

 The victims deftined for this furfeit are by fome nailed to the 

 floor by the webs of the feet, which caufes no pain, and is meant 

 to prevent the lean; poffibility of action : to which, we are told, 

 the French add the refinement of putting out their eyes % ; but 

 what end this laft piece of barbarity is meant to ferve, is hard 

 to conjecture. To what weight they arrive in France is not faid j 

 but we have been well informed, that twenty-eight or even thirty 

 pounds, is no uncommon thing in England. 



* See Tour in Scotland, 8vo. p. 8. — Br. Zool. ii. p. 572. 



+ A drove of above 9,000 Geefe pafled through Chelmsford, in the way ta 

 London, from Suffolk. — See St. James's Chronicle, Sept. 2, 1783. 



J They are crammed in France with a kind of pafte made of fatting ingre- 

 dients, and they alfo put out their eyes ; by which means they grow fat in fif- 

 teen days, or three weeks, and become very delicate.— Salerne Orn. p. 407. 



The 



