The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-03
HABITS or WILD GEESE.
They VIII Now Travel North by Mill
Ifons-Some of Their Peculiaritics.

M. in Pfttsburg DISPATCH
Almost any time during the latter part
of February and throughout the month
of March we may expect to see flight
of wild fowl at an altitude of from 500
to 1000 feet tapping their way to the
north. The popularity is the singular
v-shaped line. with the apex forward.
and the uniform distance apart preserved
by the flyers. These are the wild geese,
and to both boy and man this is always
an interesting spectacle.
These creatures winter in the more re-
mote parts of the southern United
States, millions being attracted to the
everglades of Florida. vast and watery
region inaccessible 70 all quadrupeds
save such as relong to the families OF
the amphibia. Others of these birds
penetrate into Mexico. the Central and
South American States and the islands
and waters of the Indies afford them
favorite resorts.
They are content to remain in these
southern ATTITUDES during the season OF
winter over the northern hemisphere.
but with the approach of the vernai
equinox they show signs of restlessness-
They are noisy to degree that Is deal
ening, as the pairing instinct begins TO
impel them, and in tens OF thousands OF
SQUADS they start from their sunny sur
roundings for the still cold and cheer
less breeding grounds that extend from
the Northern States through British
America probably to the pole itself
These fiocks as they make these Jour-
news are invariably led by stout
hearted gander, who maintains MS post
of honor and authority at the extreme
point of the v. and whose ciarion,toned
s'honky conveys his orders, which are
responded to by his converting lines or
followers.
When this angle is rigidly maintained
and moves directly and placidly across
the sky we may infer that the Hook IS
made up of the more elderly and more
experienced fowls, but when the angie
scatters, breaks, gets into straight
line and INDUCES in unusual vocifera-
ton it is almost sure TO be the younger
fry that Is making the journey These
cannot repress the feeling of inquisitive-
ness that the novelty of the situation
inspires; they gaze with wonder on the
panorama underneath, to the neglect OF
attention and decorum in flight, ana.
without doubt, the patience OF the
leader is often sorely taxed. 1t is like
getting raw recruits to preserve even.
ranks, and when once the angie is shat
tered the troop is ratified and most
vigorous is the. shonking before the
rank is again in order
These Journeys are the events in the
lives of the geese. They cover zones in
their flights from the tropics to the
poles. and the meteorology they must
encounter is very various with 1avor-
ing wind currents they make eighty
miles an hour, and exceptionally they
NAV reach a oue-hundred-mile- per-hour
gait and this may drop to forty or nifty
miles. and in stress OF ugly weather
they may be compelled to seek the SIR
face.
The cold spring rains are hard on
flight. They get wet on and under the
wings There istpot only the additionai
weight but the vanes of the feathers
do not act with that fine mechanical
precision, and when to this is added
snow, freezing rain or sleet. then to
the earth they make a descent and take
such hazards as the situation af1ords.
Under any circumstances the long Jour
new involves stops for rest and food,
and without doubt the wheat regions are
noted on the southwark journey IN the
fall.
They are vegetarians, and their food
consists of seeds. roots. grass ala por-
lions of plants. AS rule the same
geese spread out over the same terri
tory year after year, both in their south
ern and northern homes, but an excepv
tional scarcity of food or too frequent
encroachments OF man causes them "
seek new localities
They select suitable breeding ground,
and hundreds and sometimes tnousanuS
of nests are close together mace OF ury
grass. flags and the down from the
breasts of the females. During the
breeding season these fowls manifest ~
most audacious ferceness, striking at an
enemy literally in clouds. giving put
small heed even to firearms. rms nerce-
ness is only intensified when the young
have come forth. At night the vigilant
males are on guard. and such a hing
as taking them by surprise and when
off guard Is entirely out of the question;
While the majority may have squdttsd
down and with bill poked under tne
wing seek repose. there are sentiaeis on
duty, and these are standing. They may
draw up alternate legs TO warm their
webbed feet, but under no circumstances
will these sentries be found OIL tneir
guard and warning is at once given
of the approach of fox or other preda-
tory creature.
The young goslins at once take to the
water and in a few weeks are able TO
make considerable trips with the oiuer
geese, and then begins systematic ana
extensive foraging Remote waters ana
grounds are visited and the glowing
summer is one prolonged holiday
All the mainland and Islands that skirt
the polar region are the summer haDitat
for incompatible numbers of geese.
swans and ducks Literally In CLOUDS
these make the journey into ana across
the polar interior, and with the region
SO inaccessible to man they are as Ia
settled States across which they make
their semi-annual flights.
The Dominion of Canada has innumer-
able lakes, swamps and rivers that nave
seldom been seen by man, and here this
winged, wild fowl can readily penetrate.
free from that common and most merci-
less human enemy
AS bearing on the strength and per-
sstence of inbred habits IL may be
stated that even the domestic goose,
though probably removed centuries from
wild state. still has the habit or hav-
ing sentinels on guard. Even IN the
security of the barnyard flock can
never be found in the night without one
or two members doing guard duty ana
ready to announce the approach OF any
intruder. If hundred wild geese
alight on wheat field to feed, the
foraging is done in silence. but the mo-
ment they take wing they begin their
familiar chatter. Nothing bewilders
flock of geese flying at night SO mucn
as foggy weather or the bright glare or
electric or lighthouse lights. Their ex-
traordnary power OF vision is all the
more keenly affected by the piercing
rays which seem to hold their atten-
ton and to which they are entirely
unused.
The ample area of wing surface that
these fowls possess and their weight cali