148 CANADA GOOSE. 



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.' 



'The Canada Geese appear to be peculiarly susceptible birds, 

 and will sometimes make up by imagination or fancy what 

 is deficient in reality. Thus a Canada Gander in a nobleman's 

 park, near Windsor, having no mate for two springs, regularly 

 mounted guard opposite a draw-bridge, in front of a thicket, 

 where it was clear he imagined there was a nest, and defended 

 the approaches very courageously, continuing this ideal defence 

 till the first brood of ducklings appeared from some other 

 quarter, which he immediately took under his protection; and 

 in the second year he actually chaperoned twenty-five. It 

 should be added, that there was no nest of any kind whatever 

 within the precincts which he so strenuously guarded.' 



They fly with the neck stretched out straight in front. 

 On the ground they walk in a showy manner, frequently 

 tossing the head, and bending at the same time the neck. 

 They feed on green vegetables and insects. 

 The note is considered to resemble the syllable Svook,' 

 frequently repeated. 



The Canada Goose makes for herself, or rather for her 

 expected brood, a 'downy bed' of feathers, within a structure 

 of dry plants of different kinds. It is of large size, and 

 raised to the height of several inches. It is begun to be 

 built in March or April, and is placed among deep grass, 

 near the water. Audubon mentions his having found one 

 on the stump of a large tree, standing in the middle of a 

 small pond, and at a height of about twenty feet. Occa- 

 sionally they build in the old nests of other large birds, and 

 while the hen sits the male bird keeps sailing about over 

 the water in the neighbourhood, but not coming very close 

 to the nest. On the appearance of any danger he exhibits 

 much anxiety for his family. 



The eggs are sat upon by the end of May or the beginning 

 of June. They are generally six or seven in number, but as 

 many as nine have been found: they are of a dull white 

 colour. 



The young appear, like so many other kindred kinds, to 

 grow very rapidly. They are led to the water by the 

 dam almost as soon as batched, and her partner then joins 



