2*6 
ttfjfiSi the festive board, but the less are 
certainly the more delicate eating. It is 
not however altogether on account of 
their use as food that they are valuable, 
their smaller feathers and down contribute 
so largely to our nightly repose; their 
quills, so common in use for transmitting 
our thoughts to the present and future ages, 
have long been considered as articles of 
more importance, and from which their 
owners reap more advantages. In this re- 
spect the poor creatures have not been 
spared : urged by avarice, their inhuman 
masters appear to have ascertained the ex- 
act quantity of plumage of which they can 
be robbed, without being deprived of life. 
Mr. Pennant in describing the method used 
iti Lincolnshire, in breeding, rearing and 
plucking Geese, says that " during the 
breeding season, these birds are lodged in 
the same houses with the inhabitants, and 
even in their very bedchambers : in every 
apartment are three rows of coarse 
wicker pens placed one above another; 
each bird has its separate lodge divided 
from the other* which it keeps possession 
