hundreds were thrown into the Thames for want of ptlr^ 
chasers. One poulterer alone had nearly five thousand for- 
warded to him in one week. 
This species is met with, in the winter, on mariy parts of 
our coast, also on our rivers and lakes : like the other 
species of Goos6, it feeds on small fish, insects, grain, arid 
readily devours various kinds of vegetables. It is easily 
domesticated, and will associate with the domestic species of 
Anasj in the farm-yard, during the winter months, but on 
the approach of spring (if left at liberty) generally quits this 
country. 
I had a male bird, which by keeping the quill feathers 
cut, 1 kept for several years ; its manners were singular ; 
the bird was constantly in motion, particularly when no- 
ticed ; it would come to the hand for food, and was con^ 
tinually ducking its head in a curious manner. Its note or 
call was a short kind of grunt. Having omitted to cut the 
quill feathers, after its last moult, it became more shy, and 
would often fly round the neighbouring fields; its motions 
on wing were very graceful ; it would ascend to a very great 
height, flying in circles, and uttering its call in a loud key ; 
as the spring advanced these flights became repeated and of 
longer duration, and ultimately it left us entirely. 
A female, which we procured, shewed equal anxiety to 
leave, and though its wings were cut it managed to fly a few 
fields distant, where it fell an easy prey to some sportsmen 
who were out with their guns. 
They shewed no disposition to breed during their confine- 
ment. Are said to breed with the innumerable flocks of 
this family that resort to Hudson's Bay, and other of the 
more Northern parts of the globe, during the summer, and 
they usually visit this country in November and December. 
