166 THE GEESE 



remarks that " during the daily rest the bean-geese do not stay long 

 on the water, but when possible, having drunk their fill, swim off 

 to the shoals, or land on sandbanks or islands. During rest, when 

 feeding, these geese throw out sentinels, from time to time relieved by 

 others which have already rested or satisfied their hunger. Sentinels 

 are also placed at night to watch the sleeping flock. Neither on the 

 sea nor on lakes or rivers do geese pass the night on open water, but 

 having swum about and chattered among themselves, the flocks either 

 swim into the growth along the banks, or push out on to the shoals to 

 spend their time in rest till the first gleams of the rising sun. Only 

 for want of such spots do scared flocks in some cases pass the night 

 on open water." 



As to the posting of sentinels, we are convinced that is but a 

 pretty conceit, without evidence in fact. Geese are wary birds, and 

 some among a sleeping or otherwise occupied crowd are sure every 

 now and then to look up to assure themselves that all is well, and hence 

 the notion of sentries. 



Be it noted that while the winter visitations of the bean-goose to 

 Great Britain seem to be declining in numbers, the contrary seems to 

 be the case with the pinkfooted species. And this is supposed to be 

 due to the contraction of the range of the first named, in consequence 

 of the ever increasing areas under cultivation ; but this explanation is 

 hardly satisfactory, since what would affect the one would equally 

 affect the other, in that the two birds throughout their range affect 

 the same environment. Of the pinkfooted-goose when nesting, Mr. 

 Trevor- Battye remarks that the gander at times quits his guard post by 

 his sitting mate and begins to walk round and round her, by a regular 

 well-beaten path, meeting any unbidden approach with a pro- 

 longed series of short, high notes, recalling those of the brent-goose. 

 When travelling with their young, if alarmed, they will run along, then 

 squat down, stretching the neck along the ground in the attitude 

 assumed by the thick-knee under like circumstances. 



Though Seebohm had the good fortune to explore the breeding 



