The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
FLIGHT OF WILD GEESE.
Have Trouble Over Leadership and
Fight Bitter Dueis.
New York Sun.


AS rule, 1t is exceedingly uncommon
to find these most wary of. game birds
on the land at all in these lsstitudes The
broods which have been growing all
summer since their hatchinss in shallow
north, gather together in fiockh of thirty or
forty on some Of the larger sakes at this
time of year, in preparation for their an
Their plans are made, and. after a day
or two spent In making short jaunts to
get into proper formation, the long jour
ney begins, which, with only hn occasional
lasts until the broad fields AID bayous of
the land of perpetual summer, are reached.
Once the writer was privileged to wit
of geese that had chosen a long bank of
sand whereupon to settle thetr differences.
So far as could be made out, It was fight
flock, and it lasted all one afternoon.
At last there was a trem:ndous honk-
honking Of the geese, and after good
deal Of conversation they arose, a confused
flock, circled around and aroand the lake,
and gradually rose to a height of probably
100 feet, and, behold, as they cleared the
tree tops it was manifest that the leader
hac reduced them to due or:er, for they
scared away in two long lines iconverging to
the point at an angle, where the old gander
formed the point of the wedgA, which was
to cleave the air through 1000 miles Of
space.
Occasionally it appears that a mistake
is made, and the leader, although victorious
in the fight for supremacy oyer the other
males, is not satisfactory al director of
the expedition. He may not have good
eye for the feeding places, or may rashly
run into storms; or some presumptuous
gander may foment rebelliop against his
authority among the others.
When such emergencies arse the flock
seeks some open place and there arranges
the matter. Sometimes this = done peace
ably by consultation, and the wedge is
soon on the wing again with franks intact.
In the case of the birds seek in Cawood,
about half the flock flew away first under
their own leader the others striking out for
themselves divergent COURSE, both fiocks
shouting vigorously at each pther as long
as they were within hearing:
In another instance. one sarge gander,
probably deposed leader, remained be.
hind when the others sailed off. He was
seen dejectedly moping aboutf a little pond
at the edge OF a clearing foe some days,
and one night was found along with the
domestic geese Of the farm, H. the position
of a docile follower of the father of the
herd.
A huntsman who by a lucklshot brought
down the leading gander found the be-
reaved flock resting in marsh two miles
away, and managed to bag two more of
them during the four days they made the
place their headquarters. :During this
time they were evidently eideavoring to
find a leader among themselves and ex-
periencing much difficulty INF securing the
right one.
One morning another flock spassed over
head, and one of the geese IA the swamp
set up a peculiar. penetrating cry. The
others answered. wheeled about and Joined
the widowed band. Apparently they were
petitioned to allow the discohsolate crowd
to join their ranks, for afteI days rest
they all took flight during the night.