229 
brown, and the eyelids yellow. The only 
change which it has since undergone is im 
the size, which considerably exceeds that of 
the mother, though it bears a much greater 
resemblance to her than to the Swan." 
The male or Gander shares with the fe- 
male only the pleasures of love ; on her 
devolves the whole care of incubation. 
She covers her eggs constantly and assi- 
duously, and would even neglect to eat 
and drink, were not food placed near her 
nest. As soon as the young are capable of 
following their mother, they are conducted 
to the green sward near the water, and 
those who have been in the habit of rear- 
ing these birds must have noticed the sin- 
gular expressions of joy which the Gander 
feels for his young the first time he sees 
them eat. He shews his satisfaction with 
raising his head with a dignified air, and 
stamping with his feet, so that one should 
imagine that he was dancing. These signs 
of contentment are not equivocal, since 
they have place only in this circumstance, 
and are repeated almost every time that the 
Goslings are fed in their tender age. 
