Goose-shooting 2 1 7 



plumage and the speculum usually absent. They 

 breed on the ground in retired marshes, on an 

 island in some lake, or rarely in the deserted nest 

 of a large bird, and often collect quite a mass of 

 rubbish for a nest. The female sits on the eggs 

 while the male protects her, and both will defend 

 their young from an intruder, thrusting forward 

 their long necks and hissing, striking with their 

 wings, or flying at his head. In migrating they 

 fly swiftly and far, travelling in V-shaped flocks, 

 led usually by an old gander. In one species at 

 least, the Canada goose, the family migrates to- 

 gether, and in captivity a pair once mated will 

 remain so for life. If separated they will take 

 other partners ; but if brought together again, 

 even after the lapse of a year, it is said, will 

 return to each other. 



The tree-ducks, of which two species occur near 

 the Mexican border of the United States, are 

 placed by most ornithologists among the geese. 

 While the bills of these birds closely resemble those 

 of the ducks, other anatomical details indicate a 

 nearer relationship to the present sub-family. 



Among the interesting geese, natives in other 

 parts of the world, is the Egyptian goose {Ckena- 

 lopex csgyptiacus). This bird has most of the 

 head and neck brown ; the upper part of the 

 throat and centre of the abdomen, white ; most 

 of upper parts, breast, and flanks, ferruginous 



