2gS 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
retain, like thofe of the wild kind, is the white ring 
which furrounds the root of the tail. They are ge- 
nerally furnifhed with a fmall tuft on the head ; and 
the moft ufual colour of the males (Gander or Steg) 
is pure white : the bills and feet in both males 
and females are of an orange red. By fludied at- 
tention in the breeding, two forts of thefe Geefe 
have been obtained : the lefs are by many efleem- 
ed as being more delicate eating ; the larger are by 
others preferred on account of the bountiful ap- 
pearance they make upon the feftive board. The 
average weight of the latter kind is between nine 
and fifteen pounds ; but inftances are not wanting, 
where they have been fed to upwards of twenty 
pounds : this is, however, to facrifice the flavour of 
the food to the fize and appearance of the bird, for 
they become difguilingly fat and furfeiting, and the 
methods ufed to cram them up are unnatural and 
cruel. It is not, however, altogether on account of 
their ufe as food that they are valuable ; their fea- 
thers, their down, and their quills, * have long 
* « Englifh archei* bent his bow, 
‘‘ Made of a tmfty tree,-— 
“ An arrow of a cloth-yard long, 
“ Unto the head, drew he : 
“ Againft Sir Hugh Montgomery 
“ So right his fhaft he fet, 
“ The grey Goofc wing that was thereon 
In his heart’s blood was wet.” 
Chevy Chace. 
