knowing them, treat them with fufficient kindnefs, lodging them
in the fame room with themfelves. During their fitting each bird
has its allotted fpace, in rows of wicker pens, placed one above
another; and it is faid, that the perfon who takes charge of them
(called a Gozzard, or Goofe-herd) twice in a day drives the whole
to water, and bringing them back to their habitations, places
every bird in its refpeftive neft, without miffing one *.
It is fcarcely credible what numbers of Geefe are driven from
the diftant counties to London for fale, frequently two or three
thoufand in a drove t-
The common price of Geefe, in Wiltjhire, is regulated by that
o f mutton, both being the fame by the pound, without the feathers.
The ufual weight of a fine Goofe is fifteen or fixteen
pounds j but it is fcarce credible how far this may be encreafed
by cramming them with bean-meal, and other fattening diet.
The vidlims dellined for this furfeit are by fome nailed to the
floor by the webs of the feet, which caufes no pain, and is meant
to prevent the leaft poffibility of aftion : to which, we are told,
the French add the refinement of putting out their eyes J ; but
what end this laft piece of barbarity is meant to ferve, is hard
to conjefture. To what weight they arrive in France is not faid j
but we have been well informed, that twenty-eight or even thirty
pounds, is no uncommon thing in England.
• See Tour in Scotland, 8vo. p. 2.— Br. Zool. ii. p. 572.
f A drove of above 9,000 Geefe palTed through Chelmsford, in the way to
London, from Suffolk.—- See St. James's Chronicle, Sept. 2, 1783.
X They are crammed in France with a kind of pajle made of fatting ingredients,
and they alfo put out their eyes; by which means they grow fat in fifteen
days, or three weeks, and become very delicate.— Salerne Orn. p. 407.
The
The Goofe in general breeds only once in a year, but will frequently
have two hatches in a feafon, if well kept. The time
of fitting is about thirty days. They will alfo produce eggs fufficient
for three broods, if they ate taken away in fucceffion.
It is faid to be very long-lived, as we have authority for their
arriving at no lefs than a hundred years *.
Anas erythropus, Faun. Suec. Nff 116. (the female). —- Brun* N° 53»“"*
Muller, N° 113.— Kram. El. p. 339. 6.— Georgi Reife, p. 166.
L’Oye fauvage du Nord, Brif Orn. vi. p. 169. 3.
—-— rieufe, Buf. O if ix. p. 81.
Laughing Goofe, Ednv. pi. 153.
White-fronted Goofe, Br. Zool. ii. N° 268. pi. 94. 1. (the head).-—Arft.
Zool. N° 476.
Lev. Muf.
g I Z E of the Grey-Lag: length two feet four inches: weight
five pounds. The bill is yellowilh red, elevated at the bafe;
the nail at the tip white : the forehead, and all round the bafe
of the bill, white: the head, neck, and upper parts, are for the
moft part dark brown, with a little mixture of afil-colour on the
wings: the belly and under parts white, which furrounds the rump
likewife : the two firft marked with black fpdts: legs the colour
of the b ill: claws very pale.
This fpecies is found in the fenny parts of England, in fmall
flocks, in the winter feafon, but migrates before the end of
March. In refpeft to this country, are not plentiful.
In fummer inhabits the north of Europe and AJia ■, at times
22.'
WHITE-FRONTED
G.
D escription.
P lace and
M anners .
2
Sec Will ugh by.— Hiß. des O if &c.
pretty