88 GEESE 



thrust and blow succeed each other like the strokes of hammers driven by 

 sturdy forgers. But now, the mated gander has caught hold of his 

 antagonist's head with his bill; no bulldog can cling faster to his victim; 

 he squeezes him with all the energy of rage, lashes him with his powerful 

 wings, and at length drives him away, spreads out. his pinions, runs with 

 joy to his mate, and fills the air with cries of exultation." 



The Canada Goose usually nests on the ground near water. The type 

 of nest will vary considerably with the locality. Generally the nest is a 



depression in the ground lined with material 

 from the vicinity, sticks, flags or grasses, and 

 soft grey down. Sometimes the nests are large, 

 bulky affairs of about two feet outside diam- 

 eter, and again they may be mere depressions 

 with scanty lining of any sort. In certain 

 parts of the country nests will occasionally be 

 found in trees, and in such instances are often 

 the disused nests of ospreys, hawks, or other large birds. The number of 

 eggs varies from 4 to 10, but the usual set consists of 5 or 6. The eggs 

 when freshly laid are of a creamy-white colour and the average size is 

 3.37 by 2.29 inches. The period of incubation is from 28 to 30 days and is 

 performed by the goose alone. While the gander never sits on the eggs, 

 he is always in close attendance, ready to protect the family from any 

 danger. 



It is during the breeding season that the gander displays to the 

 greatest advantage his staunchness as a defender of his family. Audubon 

 (1840), quoting an instance says: ". . . whenever I visited the nest it 

 [the gander] seemed to look upon me with utter contempt. It would 

 stand in a stately attitude until I reached within a few yards of the nest, 

 when, suddenly lowering its head and shaking it as if it were dislocated 

 from the neck, it would open its wings and launch into the air, flying 

 directly at me. So daring was this fine fellow that in two instances he 

 struck me a blow with one of his wings on the right arm, which for an 

 instant I thought was broken. I observed that immediately after such an 

 effort to defend his nest and mate he would run swiftly toward them, 

 pass his head and neck several times over and around the female, and 

 again assume his attitude of defiance." 



One hundred years have elapsed since Audubon wrote the above 

 words, but the following newspaper extract bears testimony to the fact 

 that the Honker has not changed his ways: "CANADA GOOSE'S 

 POWER DIVE KNOCKS MAN FROM SADDLE. A resident of York 

 county suffered injuries to his ribs yesterday when he was thrown from 

 his horse as a heavy Canada Goose swooped down 100 feet and struck 

 him. He was attended by a Toronto physician. For some years, it appears, 

 Canada Geese have been regular visitors to the ponds on this man's 

 property . . . the horse he was riding accidentally stepped on and de- 

 stroyed a nest. Two geese made the power dive described, and although 

 the rider ducked low over the horse's neck, the force of the blow when 





