126 THE BIRDS OF lONA AND MULL. 



wings he goes through the ceremony of kissing successively each 

 one of his sallow young ones with open bill ; and so boisterous 

 is this outburst of his paternal emotions that it is sometimes 

 dangerous to the safety of the objects of it. However, when 

 this danger is past he becomes the vigilant defender and 

 guardian ; and, should the mamma have suffered from the 

 protracted duties of incubation, he willingly condescends to 

 be the tender nurse. Then his social virtues ! Some time ago 

 one of our geese got one of its legs broken. I carefully set 

 it with splints and bandages, and then the invalid was put 

 into an outhouse, where she lay in a hamper — perfect rest 

 being strictly enjoined. Every morning after this the other 

 geese came, and, stopping under the window for a little while 

 when on their way to the green, inquired in gabbling accents 

 after the health of the invalid, who replied in the same language, 

 " As well as could be expected ; " " Passed a better night than 

 usual," &c. ; upon which off they marched, satisfied with the 

 bulletin. This continued till she recovered, when she returned 

 to the flock, who received her with open arms — or rather wings 

 — and noisy acclamations, showing their recognition of her ; for, 

 of course, a stranger would have been driven off. I will say 

 no more, though much remains unsaid, but conclude with the 

 bold avowal that I am a friend to the Goose. Yes, I love the 

 Goose. And so the matter ends — unless any witless knave 

 takes me up with some of the time-honoured but abusive jests 

 in connection with the dear bird. If so, I shall know him to 

 be but some shallow fellow who could not so much as say 

 " Bo ! " to a Goose. 



