KEMINISCENCES FROM THE MELBOURNE ZOO. 
105 
then have room to spare; and moreover, he did not like the suggestive- 
ness of the strange chopping sound the pouch-bill made when both 
mandibles met in violent concussion. For a few minutes he felt like 
Montmorency did when the cat stopped to answer all enquiries, and so 
he swam back a bit to take second observations. At longer range, he 
soon perceived that while the queer bird was making those brave noises 
to frighten geese, he was nevertheless artfully making stealthy attempts 
to increase the distance between himself and the little intruder. This 
immediately brought back the goose’s courage with redoubled strength, 
and he floated up again as valiantly as if he had never known a qualm 
of fear. He took little heed of the chip-chopping, but, always careful 
to keep out of the way of that fearsome pouch, from which he knew 
there would be no escape, he began slowly swimming round and round 
the pelican, waiting until the fates were propitious to come to grips. 
These tactics quite confused the pelican, and so the goose soon managed 
to get in a strong bite in the rear. Streaming with blood, and cruelly 
frightened, the big bird waited for no further punishment. He swam 
at top speed to the sheltering palms of the nearest island, and there lost 
no time in rendering himself first aid, while he kept a careful watch 
upon the savage little invader. But Mr. Cape Barren had been attracted 
by the Egyptian goose, a cousin he had never managed to subdue, and 
in his new excitement he forgot all about a poltroon that fled without 
avenging first blood. 
