GEESE. 



NO thoughtful man who believes in the transmigration 

 of souls can doubt for an instant that those of 

 military men pass a portion of their period of change in 

 the bodies of geese. Of all birds it is the most military ; 

 its carriage, habits, and customs all point to its being ani- 

 mated by a spirit which in some former phase of existence 

 has passed through the hands of a drill sergeant. Whether 

 walking, swimming, or flying, the goose shows its military 

 instincts. It carries its head well upright, with a certain 

 amount of stiffness, which speaks of reminiscences of the 

 military stock. It advances with its comrades in solid 

 phalanx, and even when feeding preserves the same order, 

 and holds itself in readiness for instant action. A similar 

 formation is preserved while swimming and flying, although 

 in the latter exercise the goose prefers travelling in single 

 file, each member of the column preserving its distance 

 accurately, and keeping itself in readiness to range up in 

 close order should necessity require such a movement. 



The watchfulness of the bird is proverbial. In their wild 

 state sentries always keep guard over the feeding flock, and 

 at night it is easier to surprise a house guarded by the most 

 wakeful of watch-dogs than to approach one around which 

 geese have taken up their quarters. The fact that geese 



W. L.VII. 65 f 



