322 NATATORES. 



goose * taking flight from some sedge and rushes, led me to the discovery 

 of them. In the spring of 1774 two only remained, one having taken 

 wing and flown off, and another having fallen by the hand of the cook ; 

 the remaining two being females, we were disappointed of a breed that 

 year. 



" In 1775 we introduced a common gander to them, and they being 

 no way backward to receive his caresses, a numerous progeny was the 

 consequence. The tame or common gander was killed by a dog during 

 the incubation of the geese; and all the numerous broods we have 

 since had have been produced from males of that family, as no common 

 or tame goose or gander has since been mixed with them. 



" The servant tells me that the gander (the largest of the three 

 birds) I sent to you is of an early brood, and, as he believes, is at least 

 ten if not twelve years old. The birds produced from the original 

 goose and that gander (her offspring) have constantly resembled her- 

 self, both in delicacy of shape and colour, which is that of the wild 

 goose, with some white under the tail. Unfortunately they have all 

 fallen victims to the spit. The old lady, though blind of an eye and 

 somewhat rheumatic, is in fine feather ; and, if proposals were made to 

 her, perhaps might not be averse to try her strength for another brood ; 

 so that if you have the least inclination to have her to experiment upon 

 she is at your service. I shall always be happy to exert my feeble 

 efforts for the furtherance of your pursuits and amusements which tend 

 so largely to benefit mankind. 



" And I am, much yours, 



" Wm. Walcot, Jun." 



These geese with me did not lay eggs* till the month of April, and 

 Mr. Walcot informed me they were not so early in breeding as the 

 common or tame goose, and his finding them in the summer when he 

 was shooting, shows they are naturally late. My gander was the most 

 original ; and one of the geese was more of an original than the other. 

 The latter end of the month of July 1792, when they were full in 

 feather, they had a field of six acres of grass-ground to range in ; they 

 seemed very tame ; were with the ducks and other birds : yet they took 

 flight one by one and made off. They first tried their wings as soon as 

 they could rise ; then they rose, took several spiral turns, rising higher 

 and higher, widening the turns, and then flew straight away. 



* This goose is of the sort called the gray-legs, or rush-goose, the only one of the 

 tribe that breeds in this country ; and is the only one fit for the table. 



