Page:Amusing stories of animals.pdf/14

 eccentricity are not confined to the human species. Mr W, of Allanton, has a very large gander, which was hatched five or six years ago, and which had scarcely attained the months of majority, when he contracted a dislike to his own species. Whether this arose from disappointed love, or a disposition naturally goose-anthropical, might puzzle the deepest naturalist to determine; but certain it is that he feels so little pleasure in the society of the fair who have feathers on their backs, that the race would speedly become extinct, were all ganders as ungallant as himself. In 1823, there were two pretty bay colts grazing in a field adjoining to Allanton, and to these he in time attached himself so cordially, that he became their companion night and day. From this or some other circumstance, he retains a strong partiality to bays or browns, and will not associate with a black horse. The colts alluded to were succeeded by others; and the gander, though he seemed sensible of, and sorry for, the change, speedily ingratiated himself with his new friends. These he attends in the paddock during the day, follows them home at night when the weather is cold, and if accidentally shut out of the stable, patiently bivouacks behind the door, and is always ready to clap his wings and go a-field early in the morning. When in the park, his sole occupation seems to be to stand near the head of one of the colts, carefully watching all its motions, and accommodating his position to that of his friend, by waddling when he walks, and