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SAVAGE SUDAN 
gift — designed to tide over the danger-period-—since 
none of the full-winged geese (those that could fly) 
possessed any such powers. When in full feather and 
condition, the Egyptian geese—like all other wild-geese 
—are very poor hands at diving; even when merely wing- 
tipped, wounded geese could always be secured without 
difficulty. But the twin facts afford a double object- 
lesson in natural history. 1 
A biological fact in connection with the duck-tribe 
previously observed on Guadalquivir and recorded in 
Unexplored Spain (p. no), was corroborated on White 
Nile. That is that certain species, once they have reached 
full maturity, pair faithfully for life. When from a 
passing flight an adult female happens to be shot, an 
adult male will accompany her fall to the very surface of 
the water (leading the gunner to believe he has killed two 
with one shot), and will usually return a few minutes later, 
circling round, piping or quacking disconsolately as 
though calling to his lost consort. It is the drakes only 
that exhibit such constancy ; a bereaved duck will continue 
her flight unheeding. This applies specially to wigeon 
and pintail, though in Spain we have observed the habit 
in other species. It certainly indicates that these ducks, 
when once mature , pair for life and remain mated all 
winter, though then forming component units amid 
hundreds, or thousands, of others. Since many of the 
duck-tribe do not attain maturity until their second or 
third year, it follows that these great winter-packs must 
contain a large proportion of “bachelors” of both sexes. 
As to the precise manner and methods of mating among 
these (as well as certain other life-habits), ornithologists 
who possess Unexplored Spain will find several little 
sheaves of facts garnered in the chapter entitled “ Los 
Corros,” at p. 377. 
1 The circumstance of having one wing broken, may, it is obvious, 
prove a greater handicap in diving than having no wings at all—like trying 
to row a boat with a single oar! 
