356 GEESE. 



A Canada Goose was also observed to associate itself, in a 

 similar manner, with a house-dog ; and would never quit the 

 kennel, except for the purpose of feeding, when it would 

 return again immediately. It always sat with the dog, but 

 never presumed to go into the kennel, except in rainy weather. 

 Whenever the dog barked, the Goose would cackle, and run 

 to the person at whom she supposed the dog was barking, 

 trying to bite him by the heels. Sometimes she would 

 attempt to feed with the dog ; but this was not allowed by 

 the dog, who treated his faithful friend with as much in- 

 difference as the farmer above mentioned. The Goose would 

 never go to roost at night with her natural companions, un- 

 less driven by main force ; and when in the morning she was 

 turned into the field, she would never stir from the gate, but 

 sit there the whole day in sight of her favourite. At last, 

 orders were given that she should be no longer molested, but 

 suffered to accompany the dog as she liked ; being thus left 

 to herself, she ran about the yard with him all the night ; 

 and whenever the dog went out of the yard, and ran into the 

 village, the Goose as constantly accompanied him, contriving 

 to keep up with the assistance of her wings; and thus, 

 running and flying, would follow him to any distance. This 

 extraordinary affection of the Goose towards the dog, which 

 continued till his death, two years after it was first observed, 

 is supposed to have originated from his having once acci- 

 dentally saved her from a fox. While the dog was ill, the 

 mourning bird never quitted him day or night, not even to 

 feed ; and it was apprehended she would have been starved 

 to death, had not a pan of corn been placed every day close 

 to the kennel. At this time she generally sat close by him, 

 and would not suffer any one to approach, except the person 

 who brought the dog's or her own food. The end of the 

 poor bird was very tragical ; for when the dog died, she still 

 kept possession of the kennel ; and a new house-dog having 

 been introduced, which in size and colour resembled that 

 lately lost, the poor Goose was unhappily deceived ; and 

 going, as usual, within his reach, the new dog seized her by 

 the throat, and killed her on the spot. 



