GREY-LAG GOOSE 67 



of the weather, or during the short periods when she leaves 

 the nest, once or twice a day." 



"In four weeks the young come forth, and after re- 

 maining under the mother the entire first day, are subse- 

 quently led to the water, and made to swim to some small 

 islet, where they can hide and feed on the young blades 

 of corn, grass, and duckweed. The gander redoubles his 

 watchfulness on the increase of his family, and hardly ever 

 leaves the party. On the approach of danger, the parents 

 resort immediately to the shelter of rushes, standing corn, 

 or long grass, attended by the whole brood ; but when 

 surprised on open ground, too far from shelter, the young 

 lay themselves flat on the ground in some rut or hollow, 

 and have even been known to be taken up in the hand, 

 and carried away ; but if they are near enough to the 

 water, instinct teaches them to resort to that element for 

 protection, where, by diving or swimming to the shelter of 

 some cover, they may elude observation : on such occa- 

 sions the parents fly round the intruders, uttering their 

 inharmonious cries." Yarrell says that when the hen birds 

 begin to sit, the males leave them, and collect in flocks 

 near or on the sea. The male and female are considered 

 to unite for life. They return yearly to the same breeding- 

 places, arriving at them in March. 



A wild Grey-lag Gander is recorded to have paired with 

 a tame Goose in a farm-yard. 



