CANADA GOOSE. 



473 



two of these domesticated geese with them to those parts of 

 the marshes over which the wild ones are accustomed to fly ; 

 and concealing themselves within gunshot, wait for a flight, 

 which is no sooner perceived by the decoy geese, than they 

 begin calling aloud, until the whole flock approaches so near 

 as to give them an* opportunity of discharging two and some- 

 times three loaded muskets among it, by which great havoc 

 is made. 



The wild goose, when in good order, weighs from ten to 

 twelve, and sometimes fourteen pounds. They are sold in the 

 Philadelphia markets at from seventy-five cents to one dollar 

 each ; and are estimated to yield half a pound of feathers 

 apiece, which produces twenty-five or thirty cents more. 



The Canada goose is now domesticated in numerous quarters 

 of the country, and is remarked for being extremely watchful, 

 and more sensible of approaching changes in the atmosphere 

 than the common grey goose. In England, France, and Ger- 

 many, they have also been long ago domesticated. Buffon, 

 in his account of this bird, observes, "Within these few years 

 many hundreds inhabited the great canal at Versailles, where 

 they breed familiarly with the swans ; they were oftener on 

 the grassy margins than in the water ; " and adds, " there is 

 at present a great number of them on the magnificent pools 

 that decorate the charming gardens of Chantilly." Thus has 

 America already adcfed to the stock of domestic fowls two 

 species, the turkey and the Canada goose, superior to most in 

 size, and inferior to none in usefulness ; for it is acknowledged 

 by an English naturalist of good observation, that this last 

 species "is as familiar, breeds as freely, and is in every respect 

 as valuable as the common goose." * 



The strong disposition of the wounded wild geese to migrate 

 to the north in spring has been already taken notice of. In- 

 stances have occurred where, their wounds having healed, they 

 have actually succeeded in mounting into the higher regions 

 of the air, and joined a passing party to the north ; and, extra- 

 * Bewick, vol. ii. p. 255. 



