inserted nor paid the slightest attention to them, had we not the
following testimony to their credibility, for the accuracy of which we
can readily vouch; and deeply do we regret that a better fate did
not await si. extraordinary a bird, which under more intelligent
observers might have afforded opportunities of ascertaining the extent
of so unusual a development of affection.
A fanner in Cheshire possessed a flock of Geese, one of which, at
the end of about three years, without any apparent cause, began to
shew a peculiar partiality for its master. It first appeared on the bird's
quitting its companions in the barn-yard or pond, and Btalking after
him. These symptoms became daily stronger, and in a short time
wherever the farmer went, whether to the null, or the blacksmith's
shop, or through the bustling streets of a neighbouring manufacturing
town, the Goose was at his heels. So perseveringly did it follow his
steps that if he wished to go out alone, he was under the necessity
of fastening up tin1 bird.
The farmer was in the habit of holding Ins own plough, and on these
occasions, the Goose as regularly passed the day in the ploughing field,
walking sedately, not with the usual waddling pace of its fellow-geese,
but with a firm step; head elevated, and neck erect, a short way before
him in the line of the furrows, frequently turning round and fixing its
eves intently upon him. When the length of one furrow was accomplished,
and the plough turned, the Goose, without losing its step,
adroitIv wheeled about, and thus continued its attendance till the
evening, and then followed its master home, and, if permitted, would
mount upon his la]) as he sat by the Are after dark, showing the
strongest signs of affection, and nestling it< head in his bosom, and
preening the hair of his head with its beak, as it was wont to do its
own feathers. Sometimes the farmer would go out. shooting, and no
sooner had he shouldered his gun, than his companion was at its post,
following him as before, in spite of every obstacle, 'getting over," to
use the man's own words, ' t h e fences as well as I could myself All
this.it should be observed, continued not only without any encouragement
on the part of the farmer, but even in spite of every discouragement
on his part. How long it would have continued, or to what extent,
we lament to add, he effectually precluded the world from knowing;
for with an unpardonable inattention to so truly a wonderful case, in
addition to an equally unpardonable superstitious fear, he took it into
his head that the mysterious affection of the Goose foreboded some evil;
and in a moment of alarm, he killed the faithful bird.
We can quote another, showing that a Goose is occasionally possessed
of a keen sense, enabling her to detect imposition, and distinguish her
GREY-LAG GOOSE. S T
own eggs from others closely resembling them. A Goose belonging to
a clergyman in Cheshire, was set, as it is termed, on six or eight eggs;
the dairymaid thinking these too few for so large a bird to cover, added
an equal number of duck's eggs; the next morning she went as usual
to see if all was right, when, to her great surprise, she found the Goose
quiet on her nest, but every one of the duck's eggs picked out and
lying on the ground. Her mistress directed her to replace them, which
was accordingly done, but the next morning, on going again to examine
the nest, she found all the duck's eggs as before, moved off, and lying
round about the nest, the Goose's eggs remaining under the sitting bird
in perfect order. How long she would have persevered in removing
them is not known, as, for fear of driving the Goose from her nest,
the experiment was not repeated.
When once attached to each other they appear to be very constant;
in proof of which, a person having marked five separate Ganders, and
five separate Geese, with which they had paired, found that for three
successive years when he attended to them, each regularly selected his
companion of the former year, and continued faithful to her. Why
the Goose has been so generally pointed out, proverbially, as the most
foolish of birds, it is difficult to say, for the foregoing, as well as the
following instances, would lead us to believe that they are endowed
with a larger, rather than a less portion of sense than other birds.
An old Goose, which had been a fortnight hatching in a farmer's
kitchen, was perceived on a sudden to be taken violently ill; she soon
after left the nest, and repaired to an outhouse, where there was a
young Goose of the first year, which she brought with her into the
kitchen. The young one immediately scrambled into the old one's
nest, sat, hatched, and afterwards brought up the brood. The old
Goose, as soon as the young one had taken her place, sat down by
the side of the nest and shortly after died. As the young Goose had
never been in the habit of entering the kitchen before, the fact can
only be accounted for by supposing that the old one had some way
of communicating her thoughts and anxieties, which the young one
was perfectly able to understand. We give this anecdote on the
authority of a Mr. Bun, who states it to have occurred at Ennis, in
July, 1828.
So strong are the affections of these loving birds, that some who
have exposed themselves to their vengeance, have occasionally found
themselves fearfully worsted. A game cock, near Ashford, in Kent,
priding himself no doubt on his prowess, happened, a short time
ago, to take offence at a Goose during the time of incubation, and,
attacking her with great fury, pecked out one of her eyes, and destroyed
several of her eggs. An old Gander seeing the danger to which his