GEESE 



to perform . . . the others follow along in the diverging lines at regular 

 intervals, so spaced that each has room enough to work his wings freely, 

 to see clearly ahead, and to save resistance in the wake of the bird ahead 

 of him. As the wing-beats are not always in perfect unison, the line seems 

 to have an undulatory motion, especially noticeable when near at hand; 

 but often the flock seems to move along in perfect step. Flight is not 

 always maintained in the stereotyped wedge formation; sometimes a 

 single, long, sloping line is formed or more rarely they progress in 

 Indian file." 



The wariness and sagacity of these birds are remarkable. When feed- 

 ing on land or water the flocks are well guarded by sentinels, two or 

 more long black necks are always stretched up on the lookout for ap- 

 proaching danger. At a warn- 

 ing from a sentry every head 

 is immediately raised and, if 

 deemed necessary, the flock 

 takes wing. They are very 

 keen of sight and hearing and 

 are able to detect differences 

 in the sounds of approach; a 

 deer breaking a twig as it 

 walks causes no alarm but the 

 cracking of a twig by an ap- 

 proaching hunter will startle 

 them to flight; a horse or a 

 cow will pass without appar- 

 ent attention but the proxim- 

 ity of a bear or coyote is in- 

 stantly announced. The sound 

 of a splashing fish or a flop- 

 ping turtle cause no alarm 

 but at the faintest splash of 

 a paddle up goes every head 

 and in silence they watch for 

 the approach of the enemy. A 

 moving automobile is ignored 

 but if it stops in their vicin- 

 ity they take flight. A bear or a coyote may approach but never near 

 enough to be a menace; they keep edging away and permit such enemies 

 to come no closer than twenty or thirty feet. Wary as they are, they are 

 so intelligent that they readily discriminate between man the enemy, 

 and man the friend. This is best exemplified by their tameness and 

 trustfulness when they visit the preserve of the famous Jack Miner at 

 Kingsville, Ontario. 



Canada Geese are wily, cunning birds and adopt many clever ruses 

 in the avoidance of danger when, in their judgment, strategy is better 



