WOODPIGEON S S E N T I N E L S G E E S E. 243 



excepting when driven by snow to feed on the turnip leaves. 

 Since the destruction of vermin and the increase of fir 

 plantations, they have grown very numerous in many parts 

 of the country, where, a few years ago, they were compara- 

 tively rare. It is, however, difficult to kill many of them 

 during the winter and autumn, when they are collected in 

 flocks, their safety resulting rather from their timidity than 

 from any excess of cunning. 



Most birds, while feeding in flocks, appoint sentinels, 

 whose duties appear to be perfectly understood, as well by 

 the guards as by the guarded : red-deer, too, whilst resting, 

 usually place a young stag as sentinel, and do not allow him 

 to lie down or leave off his vigilant watching, which often 

 lasts a considerable time. Those at rest appear to be perfectly 

 unconcerned and at their ease, and to depend entirely on the 

 watchful eyes and ears of their sentry. 



In the same way wild geese, while feeding on the open 

 fields, invariably leave one bird to keep watch, and most 

 faithfully does she perform this duty. Keeping on some high 

 spot of the field, she stands with neck perfectly erect, 

 watching on all sides, and listening to every sound far or 

 near. Nor does she attempt to snatch at a single grain, 

 however hungry she may be, till one of her comrades thinks 

 fit to relieve her guard ; and then the former sentinel sets to 

 work at her feeding with an eagerness which shows that her 

 abstinence while on duty was the result, not of want of 

 appetite, but of a proper sense of the important trust imposed 

 on her. If any enemy or the slightest cause of suspicion 

 appears, the sentry utters a low croak, when the whole flock 

 immediately run up to her, and after a short consultation, fly 

 off, leaving the unfortunate sportsman to lament having 

 shown the button of his cap or the muzzle of his gun above 

 the bank of the ditch, along which he had perhaps been 

 creeping, " suadente diabolo," for the last half-hour up to his 

 knees in water, well iced to the temperature of a Scotch 

 morning in February. Thus also wild ducks, curlews, crows, 

 and almost all birds when feeding in flocks, leave sentries, 

 on whose vigilance the rest entirely depend, taking no heed 

 of anything around them, but feeding in conscious safety. 

 Nor is it necessary for a cry of alarm to be given, as the 

 flock perfectly understand what is going on by the actions or 

 looks of the one who is watching, distinguishing at once 

 whether the sentry is intent on some sound or object at a 



