354 duck. 



and Fowls are still enlarged in Sicily, by administering particular 

 food, and considered as a great luxury.* 



The Goose generally breeds only once in the year, but if well 

 kept, will often have two hatches in a season, seven or eight at each 

 hatch : the female sits about 30 days, and will sometimes produce 

 eggs sufficient for three broods, if taken away in succession. We 

 have once heard of a Goose sitting on eggs the 11th of November, 

 but this is a rare occurrence. This bird is very long-lived, and we 

 have full authority for its arriving at no less than 100 years.f 



When we consider the average profit of a Goose, from being 

 plucked three times in a year for the feathers, and twice for the quills, 

 added to its producing six or seven young for the market, annually ; 

 the profit appears to at least equal that of an ewe for the same 

 period; especially if we take in the circumstance of a Goose thriving 

 frequently in such places as are unfavourable as pasture for sheep. £ 



Geese are in the best condition for the table about Michaelmas, 

 at which time few families are without one, roasted, to grace the 

 board on the feast of that Saint. § It has been said, that one poul- 

 terer, in London, has disposed of 1200 in one day, and that in 

 ten days, full 200,000 have come to market, for eating in London 

 alone. 



30 —WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



Anas albifrons, Tnd. Orn. ii. 842. Gmel. Lin. i. 509. 



Casarca, S. G. Gmel. reise, ii. p. 177. t. 13. 



erythropus, Fn. suec. No. 116. — the female. Brim. No. 53, 54. MuUer, No. 



113. Kramer, 339. Georgi, 166. Borowsk. iii. p. 10. b. Sepp, iii. t. 207. 



Tern. Man. 529. Id. Ed. 2d. S22. 



* Smyth's Mem. of Sicily, p. 39. f Willughby was told by a friend, of one 



that was known to be 80 years old, " and might have lived the other 80 years, had he not 

 been constrained to kill it, for its mischievousness in beating the younger Geese." A family 

 near Fife, kept a Goose for 70 years, and knew it must be still older, but of this there was 

 no certainty. J Orn. Diet. 



§ On the Continent Geese are supposed to be most in season about the 11th of Nov. 

 the feast of St. Martin, or Martinmas. 



