THE GOOSK. 447

an older and stronger bird, after which his young profége
would follow him on all his daily walks, never tiring of his
company. “On one occasion,” says Buffon, “he heard me
talking in the rector’s upper room, and as he found the
front door open, climbed upstairs, and, marching into the
room, gave a loud exclamation of joy, to the no small
astonishment of the family.” ‘

A Wilda Bishop Stanley, in his “ Familiar History of
Goose Chase. Birds,” says:— “An officer settled on a farm near
the Missouri in North America, one day, when walking near the
banks of the river, observed a large eagle frequently darting
towards the water, and then rising again. On a near approach,
he perceived that its object was to take a wild goose, which
had alighted on the water, and which was diving to avoid
so powerful an enemy. Its efforts, however, appeared to be
in vain; and, after diving again and again, and as often rising
to get breath, it became nearly exhausted, when, suddenly
turning, it made for the shore with all speed towards the
officer’s house, where two men were at work, and as soon
as it had landed walked leisurely up to them, permitting
itself to be taken without attempting to escape. It was
completely exhausted, but soon recovered, and within three
days seemed quite contented, and confident of protection.”

Goose There are some curious instances known of
Friendships. friendships formed by geese for both men and
animals, apparently without any special reason. A goose in
Cheshire once followed a farmer with so much persistency,
at the plough, to the market, and in the house, that the
farmer who had shown it no special kindness, superstitiously
regarded it as a bird of ill omen and had it killed. A
singular friendship grew up some years ago between a
gander at York and an old man who lived near the farm
to which the bird belonged. In this case the gander waddled
off in the morning and spent theday with his human friend,
returning at night to its home at the farm. One of the