BIRDS AFFECTION AND SYMPATHY. 273 



often was he driven away with great contempt, and on such 

 occasions he would frequently run to some of his human friends, 

 and laying his head on their laps, seem to seek for sympathy. 

 At last, however, he found a friend among his own species. 

 An old grey goose, becoming blind, was also discarded by her 

 more fortunate companions, and Swanny lost no opportunity of 

 recognising this comrade in distress. He at once took her 

 under his protection and led her about. When he considered 

 it well for her to have a swim, he would gently take her neck 

 in his bill, and thus lead her, sometimes a considerable distance, 

 to the water's edge. Having fairly launched her, he kept close 

 by her side, and guided her from dangerous places by arching 

 his neck over hers, and so turning her in the right direction. 

 After cruising about a sufficient time, he would guide her to a 

 convenient landing-place, and taking her neck in his bill as 

 before, lead her to terra firma again. When she had goslings, 

 he would proudly convoy the whole party to the water-side ; 

 and if any ill-fated gosling got into difficulties in a hole or deep 

 cart-rut, Swanny with ready skill would put his bill under its 

 body, and carefully raise it to the level ground. 



My grandfather had also another gander who attached him- 

 self to him, and would follow him for hours through fields and 

 lanes, pausing when he stood still, and waddling gravely by his 

 side as he proceeded. This gander was not, like the other, dis- 

 carded by his kind, but would leave them any time to walk with 

 his master, and was exceedingly jealous of any one else who tried 

 to share this privilege, excepting only his mistress. On one 

 occasion, a gentleman venturing to place his hand on my grand- 

 father's arm, the gander flew at him, and beat him severely with 

 his wings, and it was with great difficulty that he was induced 

 to let go. 



The solicitude which most gregarious birds display 

 when one of their number is wounded or captured, 

 constitutes strong evidence of sympathy. As Jesse ob- 

 serves, 



There is one trait in the character of the rook which is, I 

 believe, peculiar to that bird, and which does him no little 

 credit ; it is the distress which is exhibited when one of his 

 fellows has been killed or wounded by a gun while they have 

 been feeding in a field or flying over it. Instead of being scared 

 away by the report of the gun, leaving their wounded or dead 

 companion to his fate, they show the greatest anxiety and 

 sympathy for him, uttering cries of distress, and plainly proving 



