ANAS. the western side of America. In the summer months, they are plenty on the arctic coast of Siberia, but never migrate beyond longitude 130. They are supposed to pass the winter in more moderate climes, as they have been seen flying at a great height over Silesia; probably on their passage to some other country, as it does not appear that they continue there. In like manner, those of America pass the winter in Carolina. Here they arrive in vast flocks; and feed on the roots of fage and grass, which they tear up like hogs. It used to be a common practice in that country to burn a piece of a marsh, which enticed the geese to come there, as they could then more readily get at the roots, which gave the sportsman opportunity of killing as many as he pleased. This species is the most numerous and the most stupid of all the goose race. They seem to want the instinct of others, by their arriving at the mouths of the Arctic Asiatic rivers before the season in which they can possibly subsist. They are annually guilty of the same mistake, and annually compelled to make a new migration to the south in quest of food, where they pass their time till the northern estuaries are freed from the bonds of ice. They have so little of the shyness of other geese, that they are taken in the most ridiculous manner imaginable, about Jakut, and the other parts of Siberia, which they frequent. The inhabitants first place, near the banks of the rivers, a great net, in a straight line, or else form a hovel of skins sewed together. This done, one of the company dresses himself in the skin of a white reindeer, advances towards the flock of geese, and then turns back towards the net or the hovel; and his companions go behind the flock, and by making a noise drive them forward. The simple birds mistake the man in white for their leader, and follow him within reach of the net, which is suddenly pulled down and captivates the whole. When he chooses to conduct them to the hovel, they follow in the same manner; he creeps in at a hole left for that purpose, and out at another on the opposite side, which he closes up. The geese follow him through the first; and as soon as they are got in, he passes round, and secures every one.
12. The great goose is of a very large size, weighing near 25 or 30 Russian pounds. The bill is black; base of it tawny: body dusky: the under parts are white; the legs scarlet. It is found in the east of Siberia, from the river Lena to Kamtschatka; and is taken in great numbers, together with the red-necked goose, in glades, as we do woodcocks in England, but upon a larger scale.
13. The ruficollis, or red-breasted goose, is in length 21 inches; weight three pounds troy. The bill is small, and brown; the tail black: the irides are yellow brown; round the eyes, fringed with brown: fore part of the head and crown black, passing backwards in a narrow stripe quite to the back: on the breast is a narrow band of white feathers with black ends, forming a band of white and another of black: the sides are striped with black; back and wings black, the last even with the tail: legs black. This most elegant of geese is found to breed from the mouth of the Ob, along the coasts of the Icy sea, to that of the Lena. Its winter quarters are not certainly known. Small flocks are observed in the spring, flying from the Caspian sea along the Volga northward; and are seen about Zari-
ducks, do not prefer the wild sort, being in general extremely fond of tame ones: and it is said that the major part of these are hatched by artificial heat; the eggs, being laid in boxes of sand, are placed on a brick hearth, to which is given a proper heat during the time required for hatching. The ducklings are fed with little craw-fishes and crabs, boiled and cut small, and afterwards mixed with boiled rice; and in about a fortnight shift for themselves, when the Chinese provide them an old stepmother, who leads them where they are to find provender for themselves; being first put on board a sampan or boat, which is destined for their habitation, and from which the whole flock, often to the amount of 300 or 400, go out to feed, and return at command. This method is used nine months out of the twelve (for in the colder months it does not succeed); and is so far from a novelty, that it may be every where seen; but more especially about the time of cutting the rice and gleaning the crop, when the masters of the duck sampans row up and down the river according to the opportunity of procuring food, which is found in plenty, at the tide of ebb, on the rich plantations, as they are overflowed at high water. It is curious to see how the ducks obey their master; for some thousands, belonging to different boats, will feed at large on the same spot, and on a signal given will follow their leader to their respective sampans, without a stranger being found among them*. This is still more extraordinary, if we consider the number of inhabited sampans on the Tigris, supposed to be no less than 40,000, which are moored in rows close to each other, with a narrow passage at intervals for boats to pass up and down the river. The Tigris, at Canton, is somewhat wider than the Thames at London, and the whole river is there covered in this manner for the extent of at least a mile. See Cook's last voyage, iii. 433.
33. The galericulata, or Chinese teal of Edwards, has a hanging crest; and on the hinder part of the back, on both sides, there is a crooked, flat, elevated feather; the crest is green and red; and the back is brown, and spotted with blue; and crest feathers on the back are red and blunt; one edge of the inmost wing-feather, when the wings are shut, is raised over the back, and is red, and like a fickle before. This most singular and elegant species is a native of China and Japan, where it is kept by the inhabitants for the sake of its beauty. It is not near so common in China as many other kinds, or perhaps they are politically held dear to the European purchasers: they are frequently exposed to sale at Canton in cages, and the common price is from six to ten dollars per pair: they are not unfrequently brought into England alive; but require care, as they seem more tender than our species. Attempts have been made to breed them in this country, but without success, though they are familiar enough. The bird is known in Japan by the name of Kinnodtsui. The English in China give it the name of mandarin duck.
34. The sponsa, or summer-duck of Catesby, is a most elegant species. It has a depending green crest, variegated with blue and white; the back is likewise variegated with blue and white; the breast is grey, and spotted with white; and the throat is white. It inhabits Mexico, and some of the West India isles, &c. No 17.
grating in the summer season as far north as 40 degrees, or a little beyond. It appears at New York early in the spring, and breeds there; making its nest in the decayed hollows of trees, or such as have been made by woodpeckers, and often between the forks of the branches; and when the young are hatched, the mother takes them on her back to the water. The flesh is much esteemed by the Americans. This is the species, the neck of which the natives of Louisiana use to ornament their pipes or calumets of peace with; and at the last-named place it is found throughout the year. These birds are often kept tame in our menageries, and will breed there.
35. The arborea, or black-billed whistling duck of Edwards, is of a reddish brown colour, with a sort of crest on the head; the belly is spotted with black and white. It is a native of America. Sloane informs us, that this duck perches on trees; that it is about 20 inches long from the end of the bill to the point of the tail; and that it makes a kind of whistling noise, from which circumstance it has received its name.
36. The fuligula, or tufted duck of Ray, has a hanging crest, a black body, and the wings and belly spotted with white. This species is found in Europe as far as Norway. In the winter months it is not unfrequent in England; being met with in the markets in that season, and is much esteemed. It is common also throughout the Russian empire, going northward to breed. Is frequent in Kamtschatka. The male disappears during the incubation of the female.
There are 62 other species enumerated by ornithologists; the whole number hitherto described being 98.