﻿GKEY LAG WILD GOOSE. I 



The localities chosen by the present species are, the vicinity 

 of some inland sea or lake, the borders of large ponds, and 

 also, during cold weather, the sea-shore where the ground is 

 covered partly with sedges and rushes of the thickest nature 

 and greatest extent ; but it remains yet to be ascertained in 

 what countries the Grey Lag Wild Geese chiefly abound in 

 the winter months ; unless their numbers are small, or that 

 they are generally dispersed over most temperate countries ; 

 or that they retire to unfrequented barren commons during 

 the day-time. 



The general appearance of the present species on the 

 ground is more gainly and slender than that of our domesti- 

 cated goose, of which it is supposed to be the origin, and it ex- 

 ceeds it greatly in the ease with which it walks about, as regards 

 both its appearance and capacity ; on the wing it is strong, 

 but heavy, although it moves on at a considerable rate in 

 proportion to its bulk. When the bird flies to a short dis- 

 tance only, it does not mount above thirty or forty yards 

 from the ground ; but when migrating or leaving the neigh- 

 bourhood, it flies at a great height ; and when in companies, 

 they proceed in the manner well known to all observers, 

 being headed by one individual, and forming the letter V. 

 It is remarkable that when a pair of wild geese, during the 

 breeding-season, fly to or from their feeding-ground, the 

 female generally flies before the male, as if the gander wished 

 to shew his good breeding in giving the preference to the fair 

 sex. 



By nature the present species is very shy, and can only be 

 approached by a sportsman by stealth, whereas either a shep- 

 herd, ploughman, woman, or child, is very little heeded. 



This bird appears sociable among its own species, as a 

 solitary bird is hardly ever met with ; but it does not easily 

 mix in company with other geese, and least of all with the 



