GOO 
GOO 
getables, and of being remarkable for their fecun- 
dity. But the tame Goofe is the moft fruitful of 
the kind : having fev/er enemies, it leads a fafer 
and more plentiful life; it's prolific powers in- 
creafe in proportion to it's eafe ; and it is fre- 
quently known to lay upwards of twenty eggs; 
but the Wild Goofe feldom lays more than eight. 
Goose, Tame. The Tame Goofe, like other 
domeftic animals, varies extremely in it's colours. 
It feems to derive it's origin from the grey-lag, 
the only fpecies which the Britons could take 
young and familiarize. The tame female is very 
affiduous in hatching her eggs; during which time 
fhe receives two or three vifits every day from 
the gander, who fometimes drives her from the 
neft, and takes her place with great flate and 
compofure. "When the young are excluded, the 
pride of the gander is inconceivable: confidering 
himfelf as a champion to defend his young, and 
to keep off even the fufpicion of danger, he pur- 
fues dogs, and even men, that never mean to moleft 
him ; and, when he has attempted to attack a maf- 
tiff, or any other animal, to whofe contempt alone 
he is indebted for his fafety, he returns in triumph 
to his female and her brood, fcreaming and clap- 
ping his wings, as if confcious of victory. 
The flefli of the young Goofe is certainly very 
ao;reeable food. But the value of this bird is 
greatly increafed by it's feathers : not to men- 
tion the quills, fo elTentially neceffary for all ranks, 
and in almoft every fituation, the feathers are 
highly valuable in another capacity, as the warmed 
and fofteft beds are formed of them. 
Vaft quantities of Tame Geefe are kept in the 
fens of Lincolnfhire, which are plucked, for the 
fake of their feathers, feveral times in a year. 
Thefe feathers are a confiderable article of com- 
merce; but thofe of Somerfetfhire are moft valued 
by the trade; as thofe of Ireland are reckoned the 
worft. 
In Lincolnfliire, an individual will fometimes 
poflefs a thoufand old Geefe, each of which will 
rear feven ; fo that, towards the end of the feafon, 
he will become mafter of eight thoufand. Dur- 
ing the breeding feafon, thefe birds are lodged in 
the fame houfes with the inhabitants, and even in 
their bed-chambers: in every apartment there are 
three rows of coarfe wicker-pens, placed one above 
another; and each bird has it's feparatc lodge, of 
which it keeps poffelTion during the feafon of in- 
cubation. A pcrfon, called a Goofe-herd, attends 
the flock, and twice a day drives the whole to wa- 
ter; after which he condufts them back to their 
habitations, afTifting thofe that live in the upper 
llories to afcend their nefts, and taking care never 
to mifplace a fingle bird. 
Thefe Geefe are generally plucked five times 
during the year: the firft plucking commences at 
Lady-day, for feathers and quills ; and the fame is 
renewed, for feathers only, four times more between 
that term and Michaelmas. The old Geefe qui- 
etly fubmit to the operation, but the young ones 
are very noify and reftlefs. If the fealbn proves 
cold, numbers of them die by this barbarous cuf- 
tom; particularly the young, which, though hardly 
two mionths old, undergo the fame procefs. 
Vaft numbers of Geefe are annually driven to 
London, for fupplying the markets ; among which 
are all the fuperannuated Geefe and ganders, whofe 
flefti proves unufually tough and dry. 
Geefe are very profitable to the peafanr on ac- 
count of their fiefh, greafe, and feathers. They 
live on commons where no other animals could 
procure fubfiftence; and in general require very 
little attendance, provided they have accefs to 
plenty of water. They lay from twelve to fix- 
teen eggs, and fit about thirty days; but, when 
the weather proves favourable, they hatch in about 
twenty-fix days. After the goflings are exclud'^d, 
fom.e people keep them in their houfes ten or 
twelve days, feeding them with curds, barley- 
meal, and bran; and, when they have acquired 
fome ftrength, permit them to go abroad four or 
five hours in the day, and then take them in again, 
till they are large enough to defend themfelves 
from vermin. Others put the young brood out 
at firft, and perhaps with equal fuccefs. 
Goose, Grey Lag. This is the largeft fpe- 
cies found in Britain. It v/tiehs ten pounds; it's 
length is two feet nine inchesj and the expanfion 
of it's wings is five feet. Tlie bill is large and 
elevated, and of a flefli-colour tinged with yeilov,' ; 
tiie head and neck are cinereous mixed with a 
light yellow; and the hind-part of the neck is a 
very pale yellow. The breaft and belly are whit- 
ifh, clouded with grey; the back is grey; the lefler 
coverts of the wings are almoft white, the middle 
row being a deep cinereous; the primaries are 
grey, tipped with black and edged with white; 
the fecondaries are entirely black; and the fcapu- 
lars are of a deep afh -colour edged with white. 
The coverts of the tail and the vent-feathers are 
a pure white ; the middle feathers of the tail are 
dufky tipped with white; the exterior feathers 
are almoft wholly white; and the legs are of a 
flefh-colour. 
This fpecies refides conftantly in the fens, 
where it breeds, and produces eight or nine young, 
which are eafily tamed, and efteem.ed moft excel- 
lent food. The old Geefe which are {hot are fre- 
quently plucked, and fold for tame ones; but 
their flcfh is coarie and tough. Towards winter, 
tiiey colleft in great flocks; but they never mi- 
grate into any other country. Indeed, this fpe- 
cies feems to be the origin of the domeftic Goofe; 
and is the only one which appears capable of be- 
ing domefticated. 
Goose, Bean; the Anas Anfcr Manfuetus Fe- 
rus of LinnJEUs. This bird is about two feet fe- 
ven inches in length; the extent of it's win^^s is 
nearly five feet ; and it's weight is upv. ards of fix 
pounds. The bill is much cornpreffed near the 
end, of a pale colour in the middle, and black 
at the bafc and nail : the nail bears fome refem- 
blance to a horfe-bean, and hence this fpecies re- 
ceives it's nam.e. The head and neck are of a 
cinereous brown hue tinged with ferruginous; the 
breaft and beiiy are a dirty white, clouded with 
cinereous; the fides and fcapulars are a dark afii 
edged with white; the back is of a plain afh- 
colour; the coverts of the tail are white; the lefier 
coverts of the wings are a light grey, the mid- 
dle being deeper, tipt with white ; the primaries 
and fecondaries are grey tipt with black; the feet 
and les?s are faffron-coloured; and the claws are 
black." 
The Bean Goofe arrives in Lincolniliire in au- 
tum.n, and difappears again in Pvlay. It never 
breeds in this country; but retreats to the fequef- 
tered wilds in the north of Europe. 
Goose, White-Fronted ; the Anas Erythro- 
pus of Linnaeus. This bird is frequently feen, 
during winter, in the marfnes of Chefhire, and in 
all the nordtem world as iar as Hudfon's Bay. 
