PERENNIALS AND BIENNIALS 



hope of help that will loosen his bonds ? Not 

 long ago a friend of mine having broken the wing 

 of a wild goose, saved him for a decoy. The 

 break was a bad one, necessitating the amputation 

 of a portion of one wing, rendering it impossible 

 for him to ever fly again. Did he realize that ? 

 I don't know, but I do know that the first time 

 he was used, and a flock of geese were seen com- 

 ing straight to the decoys, the crippled goose 

 never uttered a sound until just before the bunch 

 arrived within gun-shot, and then raising his head 

 he gave a " Honk ! " with an inflection that sent 

 the whole flock away from the point of danger as 

 fast as they could fly. That honk evidently 

 meant "go," not "come," and it was understood. 

 It was always so thereafter. No goose ever came 

 within gunshot of a blind when this lame sentinel 

 was on guard, and in the end he was killed and 

 eaten, a martyr to his race. 



Wound a duck, and see how by flying, swim- 

 ming, or diving, he will hasten to the seclusion of 

 the marsh. Once there he proceeds to dress his 

 wound, filling the cavity with a lint made of straw, 

 and fine fibres to stop the bleeding and insure 

 healing from the inside. Do you know that 

 primitive man did no better surgery than that? 



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