CANADA GOOSE. 
79 
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, extra- 
ordinary as it may appear, I am well assured by the testimony 
of several respectable persons, who have been eye-witnesses 
to the fact, that they have been also known to return again in 
the succeeding autumn to their former habitation. These ac- 
counts are strongly corroborated by a letter which I some time 
ago received from an obliging correspondent at New York ; 
which I shall here give at large, permitting him to tell his 
story in his own way, and conclude my history of this species: — 
“ Mr Platt, a respectable farmer on Long Island, being out 
shooting in one of the bays, which, in that part of the country, 
abound with water-fowl, wounded a wild goose. Being wing- 
tipped, and unable to fly, he caught it, and brought it home 
alive. It proved to be a female ; and, turning it into his yard, 
with a flock of tame geese, it soon became quite tame and fa- 
miliar, and in a little time its wounded wing entirely healed. 
In the following spring, when the wild ghese migrate to the 
northward, a flock passed over Mr Platt’s barn-yard; and, just 
at that moment, their leader happening to sound his bugle 
note, our goose, in whom its new habits and enjoyments had 
not quite extinguished the love of liberty, and remembering 
the well-known sound, spread its wings, mounted into the air, 
joined the travellers, and soon disappeared. In the succeeding 
autumn, the wild geese, as was usual, re'turned from the north- 
■ * Bewick, vol. ii. p. 255 . 
