68 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



Under ordinary circumstances the goose is dignified 

 in its deportment, and there is nothing that so angers it 

 as to be hurried. Under such circumstances its move- 

 ments are awkward, and when compelled to walk much 

 faster than its ordinary gait, it is often on the verge of 

 falling on its nose a misfortune which does not, so far 

 as we know, happen to any other bird or beast under the 

 same circumstances. It is the consciousness, no doubt, that 

 its appearance when so bustled borders on the ludicrous 

 that excites the anger of the goose, for it is to be observed 

 that after such an exhibition it is a long time before it 

 recovers its usual placidity of demeanour. At times geese 

 have shown themselves capable of strong personal attach- 

 ment to their owners, following them about like dogs, and 

 abandoning their usual habits of military evolution with 

 their comrades. This clearly enough points to the fact 

 that these geese were, in their former state, soldier-servants, 

 whose duties lay in personal attendance upon officers, and 

 were never of a military character. 



Unlike the hen, the female goose is not perpetually roam- 

 ing about laying eggs. In the proper season she lays a 

 sufficient number for the perpetuation of her race, and 

 brings up a family more or less carefully ; but even in this 

 matter she does not exhibit the perpetual fussiness of the 

 hen. She allows her young ones considerable freedom of 

 action, but is ready in their defence to face the largest dog, 

 and to oppose a threatening and formidable demeanour 

 even to a human being whom she suspects of aggressive 

 intentions towards them. So courageous is her attitude 

 under such circumstances, that even the fiercest dogs will 

 turn tail before her onslaught, and the ordinary boy, al- 



