GREY-LAG GOOSE. . 115 



In addition to which it has other qualifications, proving the 

 fallacy of the proverbial libel, 'As silly as a Goose.' Thus its 

 watchfulness at night-time has always been noted; and it 

 certainly is endowed with a strong organ of self-preservation, 

 for, as it has been well observed, you may drive over cat, dog, 

 hen, pig, or even pigeon, but few, if any, can record an instance 

 of driving over a Tame Goose; and as for Wild-Geese, there 

 is no animal, biped or quadruped, so difficult to deceive or 

 approach, their sense of hearing, seeing, and smelling being 

 so exceedingly acute; independent of which they seem to act 

 in so organized and cautious a manner when feeding or 

 roosting, as to defy all danger. Sportsmen could give instances 

 without number of their utmost skill being of no avail in 

 attempting to approach these birds; either a careless step on 

 a piece of gravel, or an eddy of wind, however light, or 

 letting them perceive the smallest portion of their persons, 

 has rendered useless whole hours of manoeuvring. 



Of its attachment to the human race, Pliny, an ancient 

 Iloman writer, gives several instances; one only we select, as 

 closely resembling that with which we shall conclude. A person 

 named Lacydes, a philosopher, had a Goose, which took so 

 strong a fancy to him that it would never willingly leave him, 

 by day or night. Wherever he went the Goose was his 

 companion ; if he went abroad and walked in the public streets, 

 the bird followed him; and in his own house, always forced 

 itself into his presence. The philosopher, struck with this 

 constant and strange attachment, seems to have considered it 

 as in some way connected with religious feelings; and accord- 

 ingly, when at last it died, he was at the expense of bestowing 

 upon it a magnificent funeral. 



Our next instance occurred in Scotland. A Goose, a year 

 old, formed a similar attachment to a person in Elgin, and 

 would follow him any distance, even through the crowd and 

 bustle of the main street. One day, when going down this 

 street, its master went into a hair-dresser's shop to be shaved, 

 whereupon the bird waited patiently till the operation . was 

 finished, and then accompanied him to the house of a friend; 

 after which it proceeded home with him. Change of dress 

 seemed to make no difference in the bird's power of 

 distinguishing its master, for in whatever dress he appeared, 

 the Goose recognised him; and whenever he spoke it responded 

 by a cry expressive of satisfaction. 



Another similar case is on record in Germany. An aged 



