130 CASSELI.S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



of from fourteen to twenty feathers, and is either broadly rounded or straight at its extremity. The 

 plumage is very similarly coloured in both sexes, but varies considerably in different groups ; the 

 young when one year old resemble their parents. Every division of the world has its own appropriate 

 species of Geese. In Europe, and in Asia, many different kinds are to be met with in almost equal 

 abundance, and in high northern latitudes many are common to the eastern and western hemispheres. 

 Towards the south, however, the habitat of the different races is more sharply defined. The Geese 

 are less exclusively aquatic than any other Lamellirostrcs ; indeed, some of them pass the greater part 

 of their lives on dry land, and a few might almost be called arboreal in their habits, seeing that they 

 not only resort to and roost upon trees, but build their nests among the branches. Most of them 

 prefer plains to mountainous districts ; nevertheless, certain species are to be met with at considerable 

 altitudes, both in the Himalayas and the Andes. They walk, extremely well, and though in swimming 

 they are neither so graceful as the Swans nor as active as the Ducks, they row themselves along with 

 ease and facility ; on an emergency many of them will dive to a considerable depth, and the power 

 and endurance of their flight is remarkable. When flying in companies, they always arrange 

 themselves in a regular V-shaped phalanx, the form of which appears to be of importance ; neither 

 is it difficult to understand why they so persistently adopt the same arrangement, as it is evident that 

 such a disposition is the only one that would enable every individual of the numerous party to have a 

 free and unobstructed range of vision, and, moreover, it possibly facilitates their passage through the 

 air, at all events it affords free scope for the use of their wings, which otherwise, from their crowding 

 together, would be seriously interfered with. Very generally a flight of Wild Geese will be seen to 

 press onward with unbroken ranks until they are quite lost in the distance ; occasionally, however, 

 they will, as it were, with one consent relax their speed, break up their phalanx, and for a short space 

 become confusedly mixed together. Soon, however, a leader again places himself at their head ; 

 his followers resume their ranks, and the whole body moves forward in precisely the same order as 

 before. Their flight is accompanied by a loud rushing noise, caused by the powerful strokes of 

 their wings, and the rising or setting down of a flock presents a very bustling scene. When walking 

 on level ground, the Geese keep the fore part of the body slightly elevated, with their neck straight or 

 somewhat bent. Their steps are short and quick, and upon occasions many species can run with 

 considerable speed. While swimming, the breast is deeply immersed, while the tail, on the contrary, 

 is raised above the surface of the water. Their voice varies with the species ; most of them express 

 their anger by loud and prolonged hissing, some cackle, while others, like the Singing Swans, produce 

 loud resonant notes that can be heard at a great distance. 



These birds differ very much, both as to the localities they select for their nesting-places, and 

 the season at which they breed. Many species, as spring approaches, begin to assemble in remote 

 morasses and unfrequented swamps, and here upon small islands or hillocks they make a rude kind 

 of nest, composed of water-plants, and lined with down. Some, on the contrary, select the forked 

 branches and hollow trunks of trees, or occasionally convert to their own use the eyries of other 

 birds. Their brood consists of from six to twelve well-shaped, thick-shelled eggs, always of a dull 

 and uniform tint. The usual duration of incubation is about a month. The newly-hatched Goslings 

 are covered with a soft warm coat of greyish down, and soon begin, under the guidance of their 

 parents, to provide for themselves. They run and swim actively on the very day of their birth, and 

 their growth is so rapid, that in the course of a couple of months they are completely fledged. They, 

 however, remain together as a family for a very long period. All Geese live principally upon vegetable 

 diet ; by means of the hard margins of their beak they are able to crop grass, and also to collect 

 grain, and a variety of vegetables. They likewise procure various small animals and aquatic plants 

 from the bottom of the water. 



