386 THE CANADA GANDER. 



proached them, at first with great timidity, but at last 

 bolder grown, it ventured to lie down amongst them, 

 while they were seeking their food, and following where- 

 ever they went. It was very amusing and curious to see 

 the kitten soon, instead of following, leading its forces, 

 consisting of (at least) twenty hens, chickens, &c., about 

 the grounds, sometimes catching at their feet, as if going 

 to bite them, and they pecking at the kitten in return; 

 sometimes hiding behind a bush, or concealing itself in 

 the shrubs, and springing unexpectedly in the midst of 

 them, and then purr and rub itself against their sides. 

 One pullet, in particular, was an especial favourite ; it 

 accompanied her every day to her nest, which was under 

 the boards of an outhouse, and would then lie down at a 

 short distance. The person who first noticed this cir- 

 cumstance was in the habit of feeding the kitten, and it 

 was therefore less shy with him, than any one else; he 

 had observed it in the position described without per- 

 ceiving the pullet, but when ho did, he was induced to 

 watch whether it remained there, after she had left her 

 nest. He at length observed her fly off and join the 

 other fowls, when the kitten immediately left its place 

 and followed the pullet, setting up its tail and purring 

 as if much pleased. It however did not confine itself 

 to one set of chickens only, but every fresh brood ex- 

 cited its interest, and was more or less taken under its 

 protection, the parent hen not appearing the least 

 alarmed. 



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 oppo- 

 site a drawbridge, in front of a thicket, where it was 

 clear he imagined there was a riest, and defended the 

 approaches very courageously, continuing this ideal de- 

 fence till the first brood of ducklings appeared from some 

 other quarter, which he immediately took under his 



