ANAS, OR GOOSE TRIBE. 
343 
“ The Canada goose, termed by the Canadian voyagers 
Voutarde ,* and by the Crees neescah , arrives first of 
the three species just mentioned. It breeds every 
where throughout the Hudson’s Bay territory, and was 
observed, in the middle of July, on the Copper Mine 
River, not far from its debouchure, accompanied by its 
newly hatched young-. The cry of this species is 
imitated by a nasal repetition of the syllable wooh , or, 
as Wilson writes it, honk. 
“ The following table of the arrival of this species, in 
different parallels of latitude, in the interior of the 
vorous animals, being kept mostly for profit, are seldom allowed to 
remain beyond approaching age, and, when its advances trench upon 
our emoluments, by diminishing the supply of utility, we remove 
them. The uses of the horse, though time may reduce them, are 
often protracted ; and our gratitude for past services, or interest in 
what remains, prompts us to support his life by prepared food of 
easy digestion, or requiring little mastication ; and he certainly by 
such means attains to a longevity probably beyond the contingencies 
of nature. I have still a favourite pony — for she has been a faithful 
and able performer of all the duties required of her in my service 
for upwards of two-and-twenty years — and, though now above 
five-and-twenty years of age, retains all her powers perfectly, without 
any diminution or symptom of decrepitude ; the fineness of limb, 
brilliancy of eye, and ardour of spirit, are those of the colt, and, 
though treated with no remarkable care, she has never been disabled 
by the illness of a day, or sickened by the drench of the farrier. 
With birds it is probably the same as with other creatures, and the 
eagle, the raven, the parrot, &c. in a domestic state, attain great 
longevity, and, though we suppose them naturally tenacious of life, 
yet, in a really wild state, they would probably expire before the 
period which they attain when under our attention and care. And 
this is much the case with man, who probably outlives most other 
creatures ; for though excess may often shorten, and disease or 
misfortune terminate his days, yet naturally he is a long-lived 
animal. His 4 threescore years and ten’ are often prolonged by 
constitutional strength, and by the cares, the loves, the charities, of 
human nature. As the decay of his powers awaken solicitude, duty 
and affection increase their attentions, and the spark of life only 
expires when the material is exhausted.” — Knapp. 
* This is the bustard of Messrs Jerome and De la Poitries, who 
have been so much censured by Hearne, for asserting its existence. 
See Journey to the Northern Ocean , p. 417. 
