Teacher's Leaflet, 1 155 



In the water they feed upon some of the water plants, but they do not feed upon 

 insects or animals to any extent. 



Geese are naturally monogamous; the old-fashioned people declared that they 

 chose their mates on St. Valentine's day, but I think perhaps a careful observation 

 would probably show that the last of February or early March is the time of 

 mating. A pair often 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 mated together for several years and 

 had reared handsome birds; but one spring a conceited young gander fell in love 

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

 lord and master and triumphantly carried her away, although she was appare^jtly 

 disgusted with this turn in her domestic fortunes. The old gander sulked and 

 refused to be comforted by the blandishments of any young go6se. Later^ihe old 

 pair disappeared from the farmyard and the upstart gander was left wifeless: 

 Of course, it was readily 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 sympathy was 

 wasted, for later in the summer the happy pair was discovered in ;a distan^^' sl^'k;! 

 ing" with a fine family of goslings and they were all brought home in triu 

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

 of the animal marauders which approached his home and family. 



The nest wherever it may be is lined with down and soft feathers whichjl" 

 mother plucks from herself. The gander is very devoted to his goose wh;0e,.Sit§i 

 is sitting. He talks to her in gentle tones and is fierce in her defense. The egg4 



are much larger than a large hen's egg and probably contain twice as mu- 

 material. In shape its ends are more round than are those of the hen's egg^ 

 The goslings are beautiful little creatures with large, bright eyes and a^e cove;^^ 

 with most beautiful down. The parents give them most careful attention ^5^^^^; 



the first. The family which I had under observation consisted of the parenlsij 

 eighteen goslings. The mother of the brood was a splendid African' bird ii^i^j 

 walked with her head in the air and her graceful neck took on the curves of '^i 

 serpent. Her step was dignified and she carried her beak in the air, whidh gave 

 her an appearance of haughty reserve almost majestic. The father of the brood 

 was just a plebian white goose, probably of Embden descent. He had a short, 

 thick neck and was far from graceful, but he was a most efficient protector. They 

 always formed a procession in going to the creek, the majestic mother at the head, 

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

 were no stragglers. If a gosling strayed away or fell behind he went after it and 

 pushed it back into the family circle. When they entered the coop at night he 

 would push the little ones in very gently with his bill. When the goslings took 

 tlieir first swim both parents gently pushed them into the water — " rooted them in," 

 as the farmers say. Any attempt to take any liberties with the brood was 

 met with bristling anger and defiance on the part of the gander, and the mistress 

 of the farm told me that he had whipped her black and blue when she tried to 

 get near the nest or take up the goslings. When a gander is angry he opens his 

 mouth wide, making a hissing noise, and as if in mocking defiance shows the whole 

 of his round tongue. When he attacks he thrusts his head forward even with or 

 below the level of his back and he seizes his victim firmly with his saw-toothed 



