184 
THE CANADA GOOSE. 
of these parts to be, that the attempts made to rear them in a state of domes 
tication very rarely succeed. 
The Canada Goose, when it remains with us to breed, begins to form its 
nest in March, making choice of some retired place not far from the water 
generally among the rankest grass, and not unfrequently under a bush. It 
is carefully formed of dry plants of various kinds, and is of a large size, flat, 
and raised to the height of several inches. Once only did I find a nest 
elevated above the ground. It was placed on the- stump of a large tree, 
standing in the centre of a small pond, about twenty feet high, and contained 
five eggs. As the spot was very secluded, I did not disturb the birds, 
anxious as I was to see in what manner they should convey the young to 
the water. But in this I was disappointed, for, on going to the nest, near 
the time at which I expected the process of incubation to terminate, I had 
the mortification to find that a racoon, or some other animal, had destroyed 
the whole of the eggs, and that the birds had abandoned the place. The 
greatest number of eggs which I have found in the nest of this species was 
nine, which I think is more by three than these birds usually lay in a wild 
state. In the nests of those which I have had in a domesticated state, I have 
sometimes counted as many as eleven, several of them, however, usually 
proving unproductive. The eggs measure, on an average, 3^ inches by 2h, 
are thick-shelled, rather smooth, and of a very dull vellowish-green colour. 
The period of incubation is twenty-eight days. They never have more than 
one brood in a season, unless their eggs are removed or broken at an early 
period. 
The young follow their parents to the water a day or two after they have 
issued from the egg, but generally return to land to repose in the sunshine 
in the evening, and pass the night there under their mother, who employs 
all imaginable care to ensure their comfort and safety, as does her mate, who 
never leaves her during incubation for a longer time than is necessary for 
procuring food, and takes her place at intervals. Both remain with their 
brood until the following spring. It is during the breeding season that the 
gander displays his courage and strength to the greatest advantage. I knew 
one that appeared larger than usual, and of which all the lower parts were of 
a rich cream-colour. It returned three years in succession to a large pond a 
few miles from the mouth of Green river in Kentucky, and whenever I 
visited the nest, it seemed to look upon me with utter contempt. It would 
stand in a stately attitude, until I reached within a few yards of the nest, 
when suddenly lowering its head, and shaking it as if it were dislocated 
from the neck, it would open its wings, and launch into the air, flying 
directly at me. So daring was this fine fellow, that in two instances he 
struck me a blow with one of his wings on the right arm, which, for an 
