112

Concord, Mass.
1916.

interpreted as already suggested is open to no question, 
at least in my mind. Similar behavior was afterwards
indulged in daily, if not hourly at every season, but 
perhaps never again so rapturously as on the first occasion.
The affectionate devotion thus indicated seemed to be equally
shared by both birds and wholly unalloyed by sexual
passion although otherwise so lover-like. Continued without
serious interruption or abatement through the ensuing year
it apparently dominated individual tastes and 
preferences to such a degree that little or no interest was taken in any pleasure or
pursuit which could not be shared in common.
Yet these boon companions differed
no less obviously in character and temperament than in 
physical attributes, the Goose being confiding, intelligent
and placid-mined, the Guinea-hen perversely distrustful
and nervously restless - after the usual manner of her kind.