138 Handbook of Nature-Study 



The Habits of Geese 



Geese are monogamous and are loyal to their mates. Old-fashioned 

 people declare that they choose their mates on Saint Valentine's Day, but 

 this is probably a pretty myth; when once mated, the pair live together 

 year after year until one dies; an interesting instance of this is one of the 

 traditions in my own family. A fine pair of geese belonging to my 

 pioneer grandfather had been mated for several years and had reared 

 handsome families; but one spring a conceited young gander fell in love 

 with the old goose, and as he was young and lusty, he whipped her legiti- 

 mate lord and master and triumphantly carried her away, although she 

 was manifestly disgusted with this change in her domestic fortunes. The 

 old gander sulked and refused to be comforted by the blandishments of 

 any young goose whatever. Later the old pair disappeared from the 

 farmyard and the upstart gander was left wifeless. It was inferred that 

 the old couple had run away with each other into the encompassing 

 wilderness and much sympathy was felt for them because of this sacrifice 

 of their lives for loyalty. However, this was misplaced sentiment, for 

 later in the summer the happy pair was discovered in a distant "slashing" 

 with a fine family of goslings and were all brought home in triumph. 

 The old gander, while not able to cope with his rival, was still able to 

 trounce any of the animal marauders which approached his home and 

 family. 



The goose lines her nest with down and the soft feathers which she 

 plucks from her breast. The gander is very devoted to his goose while 

 she is sitting; he talks to her in gentle tones and is fierce in her defence. 

 The eggs are about twice as large as those of the hen and have the ends 

 more rounded. The period of incubation is four weeks. The goslings 

 are beautiful little creatures, covered with soft down, and have large, 

 bright eyes. The parents give them most careful attention from the first. 

 One family which I studied consisted of the parents and eighteen goslings. 

 The mother was a splendid African bird; she walked with dignified step, 

 her graceful neck assuming serpentine curves; and she always carried her 

 beak "lifted," which gave her an appearance of majestic haughtiness. 

 The father was just a plebeian white gander, probably of Embden descent 

 but he was a most efficient protector. The family always formed a 

 procession in going to the creek, the majestic mother at the head, the 

 goslings following her and the gander bringing up the rear to be sure 

 there were no stragglers; if a gosling strayed away or fell behind, the male 

 went after it, pushing it back into the family circle. When entering the 

 coop at night he pushed the little ones in gently with his bill ; when the 

 goslings took their first swim both parents gently pushed them into the 

 water, "rooted them in," as the farmer said. Any attempt to take 

 liberties with the brood was met with bristling anger and defiance on the 

 part of the gander; the mistress of the farm told me that he had whipped 

 her black and blue when she tried to interfere with the goslings. 



The gander and goose always show suspicion and resentment by open- 

 ing the mouth wide, making a hissing noise, showing the whole round 

 tongue in mocking defiance. When the gander attacks, he thrusts his 

 head forward, even with or below the level of his back, and seizes his victim 

 firmly with his hard, toothed bill so that it cannot get away, and then with 

 his strong wings beats the life out of it. I remember vividly a whipping 



