ANSERINE INTELLIGENCE 259 



in Calcutta dropped from its swing on to my hand, 

 and there lay on its back, and tried, monkey-like, 

 to cling to me when I was leaving it. Others who 

 have had experience with Parrots will be able 

 to recall similar mammalian-like actions ; and they, 

 together with Hornbills, Guans, and Emus, are 

 certainly as fond of being petted as any cat or dog. 



Geese may display very human attributes ; I 

 have seen in India a Chinese gander (the usual 

 domestic species there) sitting beside his favourite 

 goose which was incubating, with his neck laid 

 across her back, a position precisely analogous to 

 the embracing arm of a loving man or ape ; and 

 from the time of the philosopher Lacydes onwards, 

 instances have been recorded of common Geese 

 taking a fancy to individuals and following them 

 about with the fidelity traditionally associated with 

 dogs ; traditionally but not scientifically, because 

 if dogs were universally or even usually faithful 

 they could not be sold or otherwise change owners. 



The most remarkable case of this that has come 

 to my knowledge is recorded by J. T. Smith, who 

 says in his " Book for a Rainy Day " that his mother 

 found when at Greenwich in 1766 a Goose which 

 used to go the rounds with an old woman who sold 

 pies and cheesecakes, and cackled at each customer's 

 door, going off to the next house if the words 

 " Not to-day " were uttered, and so on till the day's 

 business was done. 



In spite of their stupid appearance, Geese are 

 \vell known to be so intelligent that such occur- 



