CANADA GOOSE. 
289 
disabled in the wings, dive well and become diiiicult to cap- 
ture. When the shallow bays and ponds are frozen, they seek 
the mouths of inlets near the sea, in quest of their fare. 
The Canada Goose is now completely domesticated, and is 
as familiar, breeds as freely, and is in every respect as valuable 
as the common Gray Goose. Even in Buffon’s time, “ many 
hundreds inhabited the great canal at Versailles, where they 
bred familiarly with the Swans ; ” and he also adds, “ There is 
at present a great number on the magnificent pools that deco- 
rate the charming gardens of Chantilly.” The female, in a 
state of domesticity, still with instinctive caution seeks out the 
most solitary place for her nest, not far from the water. These 
birds are also extremely watchful, and the gander often very 
resentful and clamorous against any stranger who happens to 
approach the place where his consort is breeding. He often 
engenders with the Goose of the common species, and the 
hybrids are greatly esteemed for the superiority of their 
flavor. 
The natural desire of periodical migration is strongly ex- 
hibited by Canada Geese while in a state of domestication , 
and though at all other times reconciled to accustomed and 
voluntary captivity, they are often heard instinctively to hail 
the passing flocks as they pursue their yielding way high in the 
air. Individuals have been known to leave the premises where 
they appeared entirely domestic, after the healing of the 
wounds which brought them into captivity, and they have thus 
successfully mounted into the air and joined some passing 
party pursuing their way to the North. 
A Mr. Platt, of Long Island, having wounded a female Wild 
Goose, succeeded in taming it, and left it at large with his 
other Common Geese. Its wound healed, and it soon became 
familiar and reconciled to its domestic condition ; but in the 
following spring it joined a party of Canada Geese and disap- 
peared until autumn ; when at length, out of a passing flock, 
Mr. Platt observed three Geese detach themselves from their 
companions, and after wheeling round several times, alight in 
the barn-yard, when, to his astonishment, he recognized in one 
VOL. n. — 19 
