264 DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. 



stones and sticks at their heads. At every blow the poor creature 

 must suffer dreadful agony, but it is left in its pain until it dies a 

 lingering death. It is then borne away in triumph by the con- 

 queror, and its mutilated carcass afterwards appears at his table to 

 be devoured by him and his companions. Happily, the Assemblee 

 Rationale has now forbidden this brutal and sanguinary amuse- 

 ment as being dishonourable to a civilised nation. 



It is difficult to say why the Goose should have been considered, 

 from the earliest ages, as the symbol of stupidity. Their sight 

 is sharp and piercing, and they enjoy a remarkable delicacy of 

 hearing. Their sense of smell, moreover, may be compared to 

 that of the Crow. Their watchfulness seems never at fault. When 

 they either sleep or eat, one of their number is placed as a sentinel. 

 With neck stretched out and head in the air, it scrutinises the 

 distant horizon in every direction, ready, at the slightest alarm, 

 to give a signal of danger to the rest of the flock. 



The flight of Wild Geese indicates no slight degree of intel- 

 ligence. They place themselves in two slanting lines, forming a 

 < shaped angle, or sometimes in a single line, if the flock is not 

 very numerous. This arrangement allows each bird to follow the 

 main body with the least possible amount of resistance, and at the 

 same time to keep its rank. When the individual which leads 

 the flight begins to be fatigued, it takes its place in the rear, 

 each bird in its turn leading the flock. 



These birds are too numerous to travel in large flocks ; it would 

 appear, therefore, as if they fixed upon some points where they 

 separate in order to distribute themselves over various countries. 

 In Europe Wild Geese come principally from Asia. On their 

 arrival here, the flocks disperse themselves over different districts. 

 In our land they make their appearance towards the beginning of 

 winter, and depart towards the end of April. Formerly they are 

 said to have been abundant, and to have been even permanently resi- 

 dent ; now they are rare, and are seldom known to breed with us. 

 On their arrival they resort to open pastures and cultivated fields, 

 feeding on the roots of aquatic grasses, young corn, clover, and 

 other green herbage. On an alarm being given by the sentinel on 

 watch, they all erect their necks, run forward, and, uttering their 

 loud, grating cry, spring into the air, departing with a heavy, 



