CANADA GOOSE. 469 



migrations are the sure signals of returning spring or ap- 

 proaching winter. The tracts of their vast migratory jour- 

 neys are not confined to the sea-coast or its vicinity. In 

 their aerial voyages to and from the north, these winged 

 pilgrims pass over the interior on both sides of the mountains, 

 as far west, at least, as the Osage River ; and I have never yet 

 visited any quarter of the country where the inhabitants are 

 not familiarly acquainted with the regular passing and repass- 

 ing of the wild geese. The general opinion here is, that they 

 are on their way to the lakes to breed ; but the inhabitants 

 on the confines of the great lakes that separate us from 

 Canada are equally ignorant with ourselves of the particular 

 breeding places of those birds. There, their journey north is 

 but commencing ; and how far it extends it is impossible for 

 us at present to ascertain, from our little acquaintance with 

 these frozen regions. They were seen by Hearne in large 

 flocks within the arctic circle, and were then pursuing their 

 way still farther north. Captain Phipps speaks of seeing 

 wild geese feeding at the water's edge on the dreary coast of 

 Spitzbergen, in lat. 80° 27'. It is highly probable that they 

 extend their migrations under the very pole itself, amid the 



extensive flight than for the life of a truly aquatic feeding and diving 

 bird. Most of them, during winter, at times leave the sea or lakes, and 

 feed on the pastures, or, when to be had, on the newly-sprung grains, 

 while some feed entirely on aquatic plants and animals. The Canada 

 goose is easily domesticated, and it is probable that most of the speci- 

 mens killed in Great Britain have escaped from preserves ; it is found, 

 however, on the continent of Europe, and stragglers may occasionally 

 occur. 



On the beautiful piece of water at Gosford House, the seat of the Earl 

 of Wemyss, Haddingtonshire, this and many other water-birds rear their 

 young freely. I have never seen any artificial piece of water so beauti- 

 fully adapted for the domestication and introduction of every kind of 

 waterfowl which will bear the climate of Great Britain. Of very large 

 extent, it is embossed in beautiful shrubbery, perfectly recluse, and, 

 even in the nearly constant observance of a resident family, several 

 exotic species seem to look on it as their own. The Canada and Egyp- 

 tian geese both had young when I visited it, and the lovely Ana 

 (Dendronessa) spo?isa seemed as healthy as if in her native waters — Ed. 



