THE INSTINCT OF WILD GEESE.
THE St. Louis Republican says: “Dr. Lankford, who returned a day or two since from the southeastern part of the State, mentions the following curious fact in natural history. He gives the statement on the authority of W. R. Smith, a leading farmer and miller living near Morley, Scott County, Mo. About a year ago Mr. Smith captured two young wild geese, and raised them with the balance of his domestic goslings. The wild ones became quite tame, and took kindly to the changes of civilized life. They adapted their habits to the ordinary delights of the barnyard, and swam in the pond with the tame geese, without showing a disposition to go on a wild goose chase. At length, about the 4th of November, the weather began to change, and after being domesticated some eight months the wild fellows, prompted by an instinct to seek a more sunny clime on the approach of winter, spread their wings to the breeze, and started on a migratory tour, flying southward. Their departure was natural and to be expected. After an absence of two months, early in January, great was Mr. Smith’s surprise to find, on getting up one morning, that the two wild geese had returned to their old haunts on his farm. They not only returned, but eleven more wild geese came with them as visitors, which they piloted safely from some southern bayou. The new-comers made themselves at home and were fed and fondled by the children. They come up to the mill at feeding time to get their rations, and gabble all together, and put on all the airs of civilized geese who have had a good moral training.”