THE DOMESTIC GOOSE. 225 



Instance of courage and affection. 



and then stuffed with bean-meal, and other fat- 

 tening diet; but French refinement has increased 

 the barbarity, by putting out the eyes of the 

 wretched animal. 



However simple in appearance, or awkward 

 in gesture, the goose may be, it is not without 

 many marks both of sentiment and understand- 

 ing. The courage with which it protects its 

 young and defends itself against the ravenous 

 birds, and certain instances of attachment and 

 even of gratitude which have been observed in 

 it, render our general contempt of the goose ill- 

 founded. The following instance of warm affec- 

 tion, which was communicated to the Cornte de 

 Buffon by a man of veracity and information, is 

 here given as a proof of the goose's sagacity, ac- 

 companied by an engraving. 



i( There were two ganders, a grey and a white 

 one (the latter named Jacquot), with three fe- 

 males. The males were perpetually contending 

 for the company of these dames. When one or 

 the other prevailed, it assumed the direction of 

 them, and hindered its rival from approaching. 

 He who was the master during the night, would 

 not yield the next morning; and the two galants 

 fought so furiously, that it was necessary to be 

 speedy in parting them. It happened one day, 

 that being drawn to the bottom of the garden 

 by their cries, I found them with their necks en- 

 twined, striking their wings with rapidity and 

 astonishing force ; the three females turned 



YOL. IV. NO. 27. 2 F 



