148 CANADA GOOSE. 
she still kept possession of the kennel; and a new house-dog 
having been introduced, which in size and colour resembled 
that lately lost, the poor Goose was unhappily: deceived; and 
going, as usual, within his reach, the new dog seized her by 
the throat, and killed her on the spot.’ 
‘The Canada Geese appear to be peculiarly susceptible birds, 
and will sometimes make up by imagination or fancy what 
is deficient in reality. Thus a Canada Gander in a nobleman’s 
park, near Windsor, having no mate for two springs, regularly 
mounted guard opposite a draw-bridge, in front of a thicket, 
where it was clear he imagined there was a nest, and defended 
the approaches very courageously, continuing this ideal defence 
till the first brood of ducklings appeared from some other 
quarter, which he immediately took under his protection; and 
in the second year he actually chaperoned twenty-five. It 
should be added, that there was no nest of any kind whatever 
within the precincts which he so strenuously guarded.’ 
They fly with the neck stretched out straight in front. 
On the ground they walk in a showy manner, frequently 
tossing the head, and bending at the same time the neck. 
They feed on green vegetables and insects. 
The note is considered to resemble the syllable ‘wook,’ 
frequently repeated. 
The Canada Goose makes for herself, or rather for her 
expected brood, a ‘downy bed’ of feathers, within a structure 
of dry plants of different kinds. It is of large size, and 
raised to the height of several inches. It is begun to be 
built in March or April, and is placed among deep grass, 
near the water. Audubon mentions his having found one 
on the stump -of a large tree, standing in the middle of a 
small pond, and at a height of about twenty feet. Occa- 
sionally they build in the old nests of other large birds, and 
while the hen sits the male bird keeps sailing about over 
the water in the neighbourhood, but not coming very close 
to the nest. On the appearance of any danger he exhibits 
much anxiety for his family. 
The eggs are sat upon by the end of May or the beginning 
of June. They are generally six or seven in number, but as 
many as nine have been found: they are of a dull white 
colour. 
The young appear, like so many other kindred kinds, to 
grow very rapidly. They are led to the water by the 
dam almost as soon as hatched, and her partner then joims 
