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| Exhibition poster © Molly Watson 2015 |
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David Attenborough Life on Air (London: BBC Books, 2002).
[During a live interview on
BBC, Austrian ethologist Konrad Lorenz agreed to appear on camera, unrehearsed,
with a greylag goose. Moments later,] a keeper from the London Zoo walked on to
the set carrying a goose which he put down on a low table that stood between
the professor and myself. The goose, naturally enough, was somewhat perturbed
at suddenly being thrust under the bright televison lights and began to flap
its wings.
“Komm, komm, mein Liebchen,”
said Konrad, soothingly, putting his hands on either side of the goose’s body
so that its wings were held folded down. He was holding it so that its head was
pointed away from him. This was sensible in that he was not then within range
of the goose’s beak which it showed every wish to use, if it got the chance.
But that, of course, meant that its rear was pointing towards the professor and
the goose, in the flurry, squirted a jet of liquid green dung straight at him.
“Oh dear dear,” said Konrad.
“All over der trouserz.” He released the goose, which flapped off the set and
was neatly fielded by its keeper, took out his handkerchief and carefully wiped
his trousers clean. Then, finding his handerchief in his hand, in his embarrassment,
he promptly blew his nose on it.
He completed the interview
with a green smear down the side of his face…
