The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-25

l
In his book THE wildhower in Scot
land John Guile Miilias, in speaking OF
wild geese. asserts that they are the
most intelligent of all birds" and CON
specuous also for bravery and domestic
directions" On one occasion he had an
opportunity of watching the proceedings
of big flock of geese, and his account
will appear incredible to those who know
nothing of the subject, though sportsmen
who have been in similar positions will
be aware that these geese were merely
following their usual habits
II had been in my hole for about TWEEN
ty minutes when heard the clamor of a
single old goose coming toward the south
end of the long island, and, watching her
closely, / noticed that she regularly rang
ed the whole ground as a setter does a
hillside. No part of the whole island es-
cape her attention; there was not a
stretch of ground over which she did not
fly; and, at last, just as l was expecting
her to come and pitch on the green, away
she went. She was clearly scout sent
on ahead to spy out the land and had
but to return and report. Another quar-
ter of an hour passed, and / began to
think that the spy had given an unsatis-
factory account of her Investigations,
when there suddenly burst from the as
clamor. l thought from the sound that
they were all coming my way, but in
looking in their direction / presently saw
three small VS." of five or six birds each
detach themselves from the main body
and head toward the island. These pa
trolls exactly repeated the maneu-
vers of the first scout, ranging the
island backwards and forwards from end
to end, and at one time passing over my
~ fuFxr dc n
turn, returned to the lake to report on
their reconnaissance, and then, after a
lapse of nearly half an hour, the great
chorus of bass and tenor 'Waugh-waugh
waugh commenced again. UP rose the
whole flock of some 900 birds. and few low
and straight for the island. At first /
thought they were coming right on to me,
in which case l should have raised myself
10 shoot, and thus have missed the most
interesting, exhibition of wild goose in
telligence 1t has ever been my good for
tune to see Immediately the big flock
pitched, they alb stood up with strained
necks, looking and listening for any sign
of an enemy. For the space of full min
ute not one of them moved, then down
went a few necks, a slight nurmur of
satisfaction arose, and the majority began
to walk slowly about and crop the grass.
Soon all were busily engaged, except five
or six birds which l noticed kept on the
alert the whole time, walking about
quickly and suspiciously on all four sides
of the main body, and never attempting
to feed. About ten minutes elapsed. when
l distinctly saw a goose which had been
busily eating go to one of the sentinels
and touch him on the back with it's bill.
Immediately the sentinel lowered Its head
and began to pick at the grass, while the
goose which had been just feeding raised
it's neck and began to keep watch. 1t was
their mode of changing sentry After this
as the geese slowly worked around and
were gradually approaching my position,
1 kept particular watch on the sentries,
and twice again saw other geese come up,
peck them in a friendly sort Of way, as
much has to say, IN do my turn now,
and thus relieve the lookout of his duty"