THE CANADA GOOSE. 



123 



as he rushes on the foe, hisses with the intensity of anger. 

 The whole flock seems to stand amazed, and opening up a 

 space, the birds gather round to view the combat. The 

 bold bird, who has been caressing his mate, scarcely deigns 

 to take notice of his foe, but seems to send a scornful glance 

 towards him, He of the mortified feelings, however, raises 

 his body, half opens his sinewy wings, and with a powerful 

 blow, sends forth his defiance. The affront cannot be borne 

 in the presence of so large a company, nor indeed is there 

 much disposition to bear it in any circumstances; the blow 

 is returned with vigor, the aggressor reels for a moment, 

 but he soon recovers, and now the combat rages. Were the 

 weapons more deadly, feats of chivalry would now be per- 

 formed; as it is, thrust and blow succeed each other like the 

 strokes of hammers driven by sturdy forgers. But now, the 

 mated gander has caught hold of his antagonist's head with 

 his bill; no bull-dog could cling faster to his victim; he 

 squeezes him with all the energy of rage, lashes him with 

 his powerful wings, and at length drives him away, spreads 

 out his pinions, runs with joy to his mate, and fills the air 

 with cries of exultation." 



D. H. Bunn, a man well capable of telling what he sees, 

 reports the following incident, as occurring in Madison 

 County, New York, some twenty years ago: During a night 

 of thick fog in early spring, a flock of geese passing over, 

 twenty-five of them struck against a large factory. Lodging 

 near by, he heard the blow, roused his companions, and 

 they w^ent out with lanterns. In a sort of alder-swamp, on 

 that side of the building which the birds had encountered, 

 they found the stunned and disconcerted creatures hanging 

 entangled in the alders, or splashing about the water; and 

 after being well pinched and bitten, and soundly thumped by 

 their powerful wings, the party succeeded in capturing them. 



