280 
CANADA GOOSE. 
with them to those parts of the marshes over which the wild 
ones are accustomed to fly; and concealing themselves within 
gun shot, wait for a flight, which is no sooner perceived by the 
decoy Geese, than they begin calling aloud, until the whole 
flock approaches so near as to give them an opportunity of dis- 
charging two and sometimes three loaded musquets among it, 
by which great havoc is made. 
The Wild Goose, when in good order, weighs from ten to 
twelve, and sometimes fourteen pounds. They are sold in the 
Philadelphia markets at from seventy-five cents to one dollar 
each; and are estimated to yield half a pound of feathers a piece, 
which produces twenty-five or thirty cents more. 
The Canada Goose is now domesticated in numerous quarters 
of the country, and is remarked for being extremely watchful, 
and more sensible of approaching changes in the atmosphere 
tlian the common Gray Goose. In England, France, and Ger- 
many, they have also been long ago domesticated. Bufibn, in 
his account of this bird, observes, “within these few years 
many hundreds inhabited the great canal at Versailles, where 
they breed familiarly with the Swans; they were oftener on the 
grassy margins than in the water;” and adds, “there is at pre- 
sent a great number of them on the magnificent pools that de- 
corate the charming gardens of Chantilly.” Thus has America 
already added to the stock of domestic fowls two species, the 
Turkey and the Canada Goose, superior to most in size, and 
inferior to none in usefulness; for it is acknowledged by an 
English naturalist of good observation, that this last species “ is 
as familiar, breeds as freely, and is in every respect as valuable 
as the common Goose.”* 
The strong disposition of the wounded Wild Geese to migrate 
to the north in spring, has been already taken notice of. In- 
stances have occurred where, their wounds having healed, they 
have actually succeeded in mounting into the higher regions of 
the air, and joined a passing party to the north; and, extraor- 
* Bewick, v. ii, p. 255. 
