140 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GOOSE 



hand, it often displays the snowy forehead of the 

 white-fronted goose. Nothing can be said with 

 certainty on the subject. Possibly all the four 

 grey geese have contributed to the domestic blood. 

 I believe there are authentic instances of each of the 

 grey geese having proved fertile with grey geese of 

 other species when mated in confinement. 



With reference to the charge of stupidity always 

 directed at the goose, I may perhaps be allowed 

 to quote from an article of my own on the sub- 

 ject : 



' As a matter of fact the bird is by far the most 

 sensible of the birds we keep as domestic poultry, and 

 has more intelligence than the vast majority of other 

 birds. In its wild state it is of all fowl the one least often 

 outwitted by the gunner ; while, the more one studies 

 it in its domestic state, the more strongly does one 

 appreciate its high degree of intelligence. I have 

 most intimate friends among tame geese birds who 

 know my voice and will answer at any distance, who 

 will fly screaming towards me the moment I appear 

 in sight, who will crowd jealously round me to have 

 their heads patted and their necks stroked, who take 

 the most mischievous delight in trying to untie my 

 boot-laces, rifle my pockets, pull off my buttons, and 

 so on, and who yet will let no one else come within 



