538 
GOOSE. 
observes, that “ during the breeding season, these 
birds are lodged in the same houses with the peo- 
ple, and even in their very bed-chambers : in every 
apartment are three rows of coarse wicker pens, 
placed one above another ; each bird has its separate 
lodge divided from the other, which it keeps pos- 
session of during the time of sitting. A person 
called a gozzard (goose herd) attends the flock, and 
twice a day drives the whole to water ; then brings 
them back to their habitations, helping those that 
live in the upper stories to their nests, without ever 
misplacing a single bird.” The extensive fens near 
Revesby Abbey, eight miles beyond Horncastle, are 
principally used for the rearing of geese, which are 
the chief dependence of the fen-men. 
The cruel operation of plucking is performed 
upon these birds five times a-year. They are first 
plucked at Lady-day for feathers and quills ; and the 
same is repeated for feathers only, four times be- 
tween that and Michaelmas. The old geese submit 
quietly enough to the operation, but the young 
ones are very noisy and unruly. 
Mr. Pennant was once present when this was 
performed, and observed, that goslings of six weeks 
old were not spared ; for their tails were plucked ; — as 
he was told, to habituate them early to what they 
were to come to. If the season proves cold, numbers 
of geese die by this barbarous custom. About 
ten pluckers are employed at the time, each with a 
coarse apron up to his chin. 
The London markets are annually supplied from 
