1154 Home Nature-Study Course. 



and knob are black, the eyes rather hazel or brown, the neck light brown with 

 a dull yellowish-brown stripe down the back; the back dark brown, the breast 

 wings and tail grayish-brown; shanks and toes dark orange. The White Chinese 

 Geese are shaped like the Brown Chinese, but the knob and bill are orange, 

 the eyes light blue, the shanks and toes orange-yellow and the plumage pure 

 •white. There is a smaller breed of geese, not very often seen, called the Egyptian. 



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Lesson XX. 



■f THE HABITS OF GEESE. 



I' 



Purpose. — To interest the pupils in reading and observing the ways of 

 these intelligent birds. 



, Method. — If any of the pupils have flocks of geese at home they can 

 help answer these questions ; otherwise it must be a matter of reading. 



Observations: 



; (i). What is the food of geese? What do they find in water? How 

 does their food differ from that of ducks? 



(2). How do geese differ from hens in the manner of mating and 

 nesting? 



(3). At what time of year do geese mate? Does a pair usually remain 

 mated for life? 



j. (4). Describe the nest and compare the eggs with those of hens. 

 ^' (5). Describe the young goslings in general appearance and covering. 



(6) What care do the parents give to their goslings? Describe how 

 the parents take their family afield? How do they induce their goslings 

 to go into the water the first time? How do they protect them from 

 enemies. 



(7). How does a gander or a goose fight? How is the head held when 

 the attack is about to be made? 



(8). How much of goose language do you understand? What is the 

 pote of alarm? How is defiance and distrust expressed? How does a 

 gbose or a gander look when hissing? What is the constant note of 

 the gosling? 



^' (9). How does a goose make her toilet, clean her feathers, wings and 

 feet? Describe how she oils her feathers. Where does she get the oil 

 and with what does she apply it? 



(10). Give such instances as you may know illustrating the intelli- 

 gence of geese, their loyalty, and bravery. 



Facts for teachers. — Geese feed much more largely upon land vegetation than 

 do ducks. A good growth of clover and grass make excellent geese pasture. 



