!inner proper management, and when unmolested by plucking, &c. the tame goose will live to a great age, even, it is alleged, to fourscore years, or, perhaps, a cen tury. It is, however, seldom permitted to live out its na tural life, being sold with the younger ones long before it approaches that period. The old ones are called cagmags, and are bought only by novices in market-making ; for, from their toughness, they are utterly unfit for the table. The tame goose lays from seven to twelve eggs, and some times more, which the careful housewife divides equally among her brood geese, when they begin to sit. Those of her stock which lay a second time in the course of the summer, are seldom, if ever, permitted to have a second hatching; but the eggs are used for household purposes. In some countries the domestic geese require much less care and attendance than in this. Thus, among the vil lages of the Cossacks, on the Don, they leave their homes in March or April, as soon as the ice breaks up ; and the pairs joining, take flight in a body to the remote northern lakes, where they breed, and constantly reside during the summer ; but, on the beginning of winter, the parent birds, with their multiplied young progeny, all return and divide themselves, every flock alighting at the door of the re spective place to which it belongs. The accuracy with which they thus return to their several homes, denotes more intellect than is generally ascribed to them. An other quality which they eminently possess, is vigilance; for nothing can stir in the night, but they are roused, and immediately commence cackling ; and, on the nearer ap proach of apprehended danger, they set up their shriller and more clamorous cries. This sort of vociferous alarm saved Rome from being captured by the Gauls, and long associated feelings of respect and gratitude with the histo ry of this watchful species.
segetum, Gmcl. &c. Bean Goose, or Small Wild Goose. The folded wings extending beyond the extremity of the tail ; bill long, depressed, and of a dusky orange hue. Length about two feet and a half, expanse of wing five feet seven inches, and weight from five to seven pounds. It has a considerable resemblance to the preced ing, with which it has been often confounded, and for which it is frequently sold; but it is smaller, has the bill differently coloured, and the legs saffron. Inhabits the arctic regions, and migrates into our more temperate re gions in autumn, leaving them again in May. In their passage they alight on green fields, and tear up the spring ing wheat. In their migrations they fly at a great height, in the same array as the wild geese, and cackling as they advance. They breed as far south as Lewis, the female laying ten or twelve white eggs, in heathy or marshy soil.
A. leucojtsis, Tern. Anser leucopsis, Bechst. .Arras erythronus, Lin. and Lath. Bernath Goose, Prov. Rou therook, Claikis, Tree Goose, &c. Temminck has properly cancelled the Linnean epithet erythrokus, be cause the legs ate not red, but black or dusky. Cinere
ous, with black and white undulations above; neck black; face and belly white. Length between two and three feet. The female is rather smaller. This species is often con founded with the following; but it is somewhat larger, with more decided black in its plumage ; and it breeds only in the extreme north, visiting the more temperate la titudes in winter. When, therefore, it is said to be com mon on the western shores of Ireland, particularly in the Bay of Belfast, we are to understand that the Brent, and not the real Bernacle goose is meant, as was some time ago ascertained by Sir William Elford. In the darker ages, the present species was seriously believed to be pro duced from the Lepas anatifera, or Goose-bearing acorn shell. The feathery beard of the occupant of this shell passed for part of the young bird ; and as the shells were frequently found adhering to fragments of wood, they were fabled to grow on trees; nor was it a mean mental effort to entertain doubts of this vegetable origin of the Berna tele goose. Even two centuries ago, some naturalists of name asserted that they were eye witnesses of the trans formation ; and Butler, by a poetical license, transfers the fable to the gannet.
"As bernacles turn solan geese, In the islands of the Orcades." The bernacle, when taken, is very easily tamed.
bernicla, Lin. &c. Brent or Broad Goose, Prov. Black Goose, flora, Horra, Horric, Quink, or Rood Goose. Brown ; head, neck, and breast black; collar white ; sca pulars and wing-coverts ash. In the females and the younger birds, the plumage is not so distinctly marked; and the white spots on the sides of the neck arc often blended with dusky. Length from twenty-two to twenty three inches. It is distinguished by its cry, which is a hoarse and hollow bark, frequently repeated. Inhabits the heaths and marshes of the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and America, migrating southward in winter, and sometimes frequenting our shores in great flocks. On the French coast, they are said to have been little known till 1740, when they appeared in such multitudes that they did great damage to the fields of green corn, and were knocked down with sticks and stones. A north or north easterly wind, also, sometimes conveys them to the coasts of England, and in such dense bands that they are apt to starve for want of food. But they are more steadily plen tiful in Ireland, where they are taken in nets placed across the rivers, especially in those which flow into the Irish Channel. They feed on aquatic plants and marine vermes, and are partial to Palygonum viviparum and Empetrum nigrum. They are capable of being tamed and reared in a poultry yard; but they are extremely timid, and may be put to flight by birds much smaller than themselves. Their flesh is esteemed at table, especially in Roman Ca tholic countries, where it is allowed to be eaten during Lent.