GEESE IN INDIA i53 



occurred to me that owing to the sandbank one could 

 approach quite near to the flock unobserved. Knowing 

 that geese are creatures of habit, I counted on the flock 

 being at the identical spot next day. Consequently, 

 I returned the following morning and approached on 

 all fours from the sandbank side, and was rewarded 

 by securing a barred-headed goose. I repeated the 

 operation on the following day, and again bagged a 

 goose. The third day I was unable to visit the place, 

 so sent a friend, who was only prevented from slaying 

 a goose by the fact that two Brahminy ducks in mid- 

 stream saw him approaching and gave the alarm. We 

 left the camp the next day. I do not, therefore, know 

 whether the geese continued to frequent that danger- 

 fraught sandbank. The fact that they allowed them- 

 selves to be caught napping thrice shows that they have 

 not quite so much intelligence as some people credit 

 them with. For all that, the goose is no fool. 



