ss GREY-LAG GOOSE.
mate was exposed, flew to her assistance, and many desperate battles
took place; one day in bis absence the cock renewed his attack upon
the (loose, when the (hinder, hearing the bustle, hurried up and seizing
the cock, dragged him into the pond, where he ducked him repeatedly,
and finally drowned him.
Another somewhat similar instance occurred at Astbury, near Congleton,
in Cheshire. Several Geese were feeding near a barn where some
men were thrashing, and a Sparrow near them, when a Hawk suddenly
pounced upon the latter, and would have inevitably carried it off had
not the Gander flown to its rescue, and with its beak struck the Hawk
so violent a blow that it was stunned, and taken up by one of the
thrashers. The Goose is, in truth, by no means a cowardly bird, and
will often, when excited, defend himself very courageously.
Under particular circumstance a Wild-Goose has indeed been known
to throw itself under the protection of man. Thus an officer settled
on a farm near the Missouri, in North America, one day observed a
large Eagle frequently darting towards the river, and then rising again.
On a near approach, he perceived that its object was to take a
YVild-Goose, which had alighted on the water, and which was dipping
to avoid so powerful an enemy. Its efforts, however, appeared to be
in vain, and after diving again and again, and as often rising to get
breath, it became nearly exhausted; when suddenly turning, it made
for the shore with all speed towards the officer's house, where two
men were at work, and, as soon as it had landed, walked leisurely
up to them, permitting itself to be taken without attempting to escape.
It was completely exhausted, but soon recovered, and within three
days seemed quite contented and confident of protection.'
I n the spring of the year the young males have frequent contests,
holding one another by the neck and healing with their wings till
one is obliged to yield; the females are spectators, but not silent ones,
keeping up a constant cackling, expressive of encouragement to continue
the fight, or exhortative to peace. Wild-Geese are good to cat when
fed on the land. They are very shy and vigilant birds, and can only
be approached on open ground by stalking, and that of the most careful
kind. Sentinels are always on the look-out, to give immediate notice
of the approach of danger, and on the slightest alarm the whole
flock take wing. They usually retire at night to the water, but watch
is still kept by sentries who take their turns in the office.
They feed on grasses of various kinds, the young blades of corn,
water-plants, clover, and other herbage, as also seeds, grain, barley,
it is said, and oats, especially, and often do considerable damage
among the young crops.
The voice, a claugulous call, is the echo of the harsh cry of the
GRET-LAG GOOSE. 89
common species. It is very frequently uttered, especially when the
bird is flying, or if a companion be met with.
The nest of this Goose is made of grass, rushes, leaves, or dry
stalks of plants, under cover of some rushes or osiers, and is well
lined with feathers. It is large in size, and is located in a marsh, or
by the border of a lake or inland sea. The male keeps guard near
it while his partner sits.
The eggs are said to be commonly four or five in number, but
to amount also to as many as twelve or fourteen, the former tin- produce
of younger, and the latter of older birds; eight or nine the
intermediate quantity. They are of a dull yellowish white, smooth
and shining in appearance.
Meyer says, ' T h e female is very careful in covering the eggs with
some of the surrounding materials, whenever she leaves the nest for
a short time; and it may serve as a safe guide to persons who go
in search of the eggs, that if they are uncovered, they are forsaken,
and are, consequently, not worth leaving in the nest. As soon as
the Goose has laid her full number of eggs, she plucks the down oft'
her breast, and disposes it in such a manner among the eggs, that
they retain an equal temperature even at the changes of the weather,
or during the short periods when she leaves the nest, once or twice
a day.'
' I n four weeks the young come forth, and after remaining under the
mother the entire first day, are subsequently led to the water, and
made to swim to some small islet, where they can hide, and feed on
the young blades of corn, grass, and duckweed. The Gander redoubles
his watchfulness on the increase of his family, and hardly ever leaves
the party. On the approach of danger, the parents resort immediately
to the shelter of rushes, standing corn, or long grass, attended by the
whole brood; but wdien surprised on open ground, too far from shelter,
the young lay themselves flat on the ground in some rut or hollow,
and have even been known to be taken up in the hand, and carried
away; but if they are near enough to the water, instinct teaches them
to resort to that element for protection, where, by diving or swimming
to the shelter of some cover, they may elude observation: on such
occasions the parents fly round the intruders, uttering their inharmonious
cries.' Yarrell says that when the hen birds begin to sit, the males
leave the fens, and collect in flocks near or on the sea. The male
and female are considered to unite for life. They return yearly to
the same breeding-places, arriving at them in March.
A \\ ild Grey-Lag Gander is recorded to have paired with a Tame
Goose hi a farm-yard. A similar case also occurred in the Gardens
VOL.