THE CANADA GOOSE, 



107 



THE CANADA OR CRAVAT GOOSE. 



" Mopso Nisa datur, quid non speremus amantes ? 



Virgil. 



The fine proportions of this stately foreigner, its 

 voice, and flavour of its flesh, are strong induce- ' 

 ments for us all to hope that, ere long, it will be- 

 come a naturalised bird throughout the whole 

 of Great Britain. I stop not to give a detailed 

 description of its plumage ; that has already 

 been performed by many able hands. Suffice 

 it then to say, that its beautiful black neck and 

 white cheeks render it so particularly conspi- 

 cuous, that those who have seen it once will 

 never be at a loss to recognise it, when viewed 

 amongst all other species of the goose tribe. 



Towards the close of the last century, thirteen 

 of these birds were to be seen on this sheet of 

 water. My father had taken the precaution to 

 have them pinioned, in order to insure their 

 permanent stay with him ; and they were known 

 by no other name than that of Spanish Geese. 

 After my father's death, and during my absence 



