122 THE CANADA GOOSE. 



tude until I reached within a few yards of the nest, when, 

 suddenly lowering its head, and shaking it as if it were 

 dislocated from the neck, it would open its wings and launch 

 into the air, flying directly at me. So daring was this fine 

 fellow, that in two instances he struck me a blow with one 

 of his wings on the right arm, which, for an instant, I 

 thought was broken. I observed that immediately after 

 such an effort to defend his nest and mate, he would run 

 swiftly towards them, pass his head and neck several times 

 over and around the female, and again assume his attitude 

 of defiance." 



The same author says: " It is extremely amusing to wit- 

 ness the courtship of the Canada Goose in all its stages; 

 and let me assure you, reader, that although a gander does 

 not strut before his beloved with the pomposity of a 

 Turkey, or the grace of a Dove, his ways are quite as 

 agreeable to the female of his choice. I can imagine before 

 me one who has just accomplished the defeat of another 

 male after a struggle of half an hour or more. He advances 

 gallantly towards the object of his attention, his head 

 scarcely raised an inch from the ground, his bill open to its 

 full stretch, his fleshy tongue elevated, his eyes darting fiery 

 glances, and as he moves he hisses loudly, while the emotion 

 which he experiences causes his quills to shake, and his 

 feathers to rustle. Now he is close to her who, in his eyes, 

 is all loveliness, his neck bending gracefully in all directions, 

 passes all around her,- and occasionally touches her body; 

 and as she congratulates him on his victory, and acknowl- 

 edges his affection, they move their necks in a hundred 

 curious ways. At this moment fierce jealousy urges the 

 defeated gander to renew his efforts to obtain his love; he 

 advances apace, his eye glowing with the fire of rage; he 

 shakes his broad wings, ruffles up his whole plumage, and 



