26 
ANATIM. 
Of the birds mentioned in the preceding instances, those which 
occurred in 1838 are the most likely to have been truly wild, as 
that winter (1837-38) was quite remarkable for the number of 
Anatida — swans, geese, and ducks — which, in the severe portion 
of it, visited Great Britain and temperate Europe. The occur- 
rence of the species, however, on the continental coasts of Europe, 
is not noticed in the works of Temminck, Keyserling and Blasius, 
or Schlegel. Much information respecting this goose is brought 
forward in YarrelFs f British Birds* (vol. iii. p. 91); since the 
publication of which, Mr. Waterton has, in the second series of 
his ‘ Essays on Natural History* (p. 107), given a very inter- 
esting account of it at Walton Hall. Wilson, commencing his 
description with, “ This is the common wild goose of the United 
States/* treats very pleasingly of the species (vol. iii. p. 74, Jar- 
dine*s edit.), in which Audubon follows him, devoting seventeen 
pages to its habits (vol. iii. p. 1). 
The Canada goose, being kept on ponds in the neighbour- 
hood of Belfast, has, in a semi- domestic state, been long familiar 
to me. It is a spirited, bold species, and remarkably vigilant, more 
so even than the common goose. Its loud clanging note is 
heard at a great distance ; and when given forth in the spring, 
sans intermission, often proves more deafening than agreeable to 
persons near to it. This is the boldest of birds in spring, next 
to the tame swan ; and when paired, the gander will attack every 
living creature, not excepting man himself, that approaches the 
neighbourhood of his watery domain. The first bird of the 
species known to me was a goose, which, in the absence of a 
mate of her own kind, paired with a common gander, and pro- 
duced numerous young. Some years afterwards a male of her 
own species was procured, with whom she associated ; but though 
eggs were laid, they were not prolific, probably in consequence of 
her age. This male bird was one of a flock of six or seven, which 
visited Ballantrae, on the coast of Ayrshire, where he was cap- 
tured, though having the full use of his wings. He was brought 
here by a friend on returning from shooting, in the autumn, and 
