GEESE. 
861 
of a Mr. Brew, who states it to have occurred at Ennis, in 
July, 1828. 
So strong are the affections of these loving birds, that 
some who have exposed themselves to their vengeance have 
occasionally found themselves fearfully worsted. A Game 
Cock, near Ashford, in Kent, priding himself, no doubt, on 
his prowess, happened, a short time ago, to take offence at a 
Goose during the time of incubation ; and, attacking her with 
great fury, pecked out one of her eyes, and destroyed several 
of her eggs. An old Gander, seeing the danger to which his 
mate was exposed, flew to her assistance, and many desperate 
battles took place. One day, in his absence, the Cock re- 
newed his attack upon the Goose ; when the Gander, hearing 
the hustle, hurried up, and seizing the Cock, dragged him 
into the pond, where he ducked him repeatedly, and finally 
drowned him. 
Another somewhat similar instance occurred at Asthury, 
near Congleton, in Cheshire. Several Geese were feeding 
near a barn, where some men were threshing, and a Sparrow 
near them, when a Hawk suddenly pounced upon the latter, 
and would have inevitably have carried it off, had not the 
Gander flown to its rescue, and with its beak struck the Hawk 
so violent a blow, that it was stunned, and taken up by one 
of the threshers. The Goose is, in truth, by no means a 
cowardly bird, and will often, when excited, defend himself 
very courageously, — a quality of which the Bussians seem 
well aware, as it is not an uncommon thing in that country, 
instead of training up Game Cocks for fighting, to have what 
are termed Goose-pits, where they are regularly trained for 
the sport. The birds are taught to peck at each other’s 
shoulders, so as to draw blood; and well-trained Ganders 
have been known to sell as high as twenty pounds, and betting 
upon them runs very high. This cruel sport takes place in 
March.*' 
Our domestic Geese are descended from the marsh or fen 
Goose (Anser joalustris ), which, though originally a wild 
Granville’s Russia. 
