CANADA GOOSE. 
57 
them to those parts of the marshes over which the wild ones are 
accustomed to fly ; and concealing themselves within gunshot, 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 the shooters an opportunity of discharging two, and 
sometimes three, loaded muskets 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 and 
twenty-five cents 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 quar- 
ters of the country, and is remarked for being extremely watchful, 
and more sensible of approaching changes in the atmosphere than 
the common Gray Goose. In England, France, and Germany, 
they have also been long ago domesticated. Buffon, in his account 
of this bird, observes, Avithin these few years many hundreds 
inhabited the great canal at Versailles, where they bred familiarly 
with the Swans ; they were oftener on the grassy margins than in 
the water;’’ and adds, “ there is at present a great number of them 
on the magnificent pools that decorate the charming gardens of 
Chantilly.” Thus has America already added to the stock of do- 
mestic fowls three species, the Turkey, the Muscovy Duck, and the 
Canada Goose, superior to most in size, and inferior to none in use- 
fulness ; 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 mi- 
grate to the north in spring, has been already taken notice of. 
Instances have occurred where, their wounds having healed, they 
VOL. vin. 
^ Bewick, vol. ii, p. 255. 
P 
