hatch the eggs, which is the limit of faithful- 

 ness. 



The nest is a collection of drlftweed and 

 sticks lined with down, and placed, usually, on 

 the ground in a marsh or meadow. Occasion- 

 ally it is upon a stump, or even up in some old 

 fish-hawk's nest on the top of a tree. 



As soon as the goslings hatch they take to the 

 water, and life for goose and gander tangles fast 

 with trouble. 



I once watched a pair, that had bred in cap- 

 tivity, as they were led about by one small gos- 

 ling — their only one left out of a brood of seven. 

 I cannot imagine their pulling through alive 

 had all seven lived. From sunrise to nightfall 

 their anxious day was spent trying to keep up 

 with Master Gosling. He went whither he would ; 

 they in single file waddled along behind, caution- 

 ing, chiding, lamenting, so uncomfortably hur- 

 ried as to have time only to snatch a blade of 

 grass here, a billful of water there, as the irre- 

 pressible infant straddled up and down his back- 

 yard world. 



It is well along in August before the youug 

 are able to fly. All this time the parents have 

 [276] 



