162 THE GEESE 



considered presently, finding a more congenial environment for the 

 nurture of their offspring in the Far North. When in the autumn the 

 grey geese seek our shores, they display an almost inordinate love of 

 grain, which they find on the stubbles though less is to be gleaned 

 now than in days gone by. After the ploughing, the tender blades of 

 grass and clover form their staple fare. Normally they feed by day 

 and sleep by night. But in October, when they first arrive, the fields 

 are full of labourers, and to avoid them the birds huddle together in 

 their roosting quarters on the sand-flats by the shore, or seek suitable 

 cover inland. This disturbing factor is commonly left out of account 

 by those who describe these birds as night feeders. 



We know more perhaps of the breeding habits of the greylag 

 than of the three other species to which we have referred, but when 

 all is said this knowledge, which, be it noted, has been gained from 

 observations made on their northern breeding haunts, does not 

 amount to much. Like its congeners, the greylag pairs for life, and 

 thus it is that, arrived on its breeding grounds, nest building is at 

 once begun. Young birds breed possibly in their second year, more 

 probably in their third, and the competition for females among the 

 bachelors occasions some great fights. The younger, unmated, in- 

 eligible birds live in the breeding colony, but keep in separate 

 flocks. 



The gander takes no part in the duties of incubation, and 

 this is true of all the Geese. But he jealously guards his mate 

 while sitting, and the young when these appear. They are taken 

 down to the water within an hour or two of hatching, where an 

 abundance of insect food, grass, and water-weeds can be relied on. 

 At the end of the day they are brought back to the nest and brooded 

 by the female. In the case of the death of both parents the goslings 

 join other broods, and seem to be willingly adopted by the parents 

 thereof. 1 When about to venture forth to feed, the female thrusts 

 her head out from the reeds and takes a careful survey. If all is 



1 Alpheraky, Geese of Europe and Asia. 



