732 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



GEESE. 



By the late \V. O. Joikn, Lecturer in Poultiy, ELseuhiirg Scliuol (li 



Ao'riciilture. 



Historical. — There are several breeds of geese spread over various 

 portions of the world, especially Europe, northern Asia, and America. 

 The wild variety is known as the Grey-Lag, or ornithologically as 

 Anser cinereus. The commonest offshoots of the Grey-Lag are the 

 dark-grey ''Brent goose," the "Barnacle goose," and the "Canada 

 goose." 



These is no doubt that all domesticated geese are descendants of 

 the common Grey-Lag (wild goose), and that the present difference 

 in general appearance, character, etc., is due to centuries of breeding 

 for the particular shape, colour, type, etc., that we now associate with 

 such well-known breeds as Toulouse geese or Embden geese. These 

 breeds are probably the oldest domestic fowls in history, as we find, 

 long prior to the Christian era, well-defined laws were followed in 

 selecting breeding stock. 



Embden Geese. — Pure white in body; eyes, bright blue; beak, 

 orange coloured; legs and toes, deep orange. Male weighs 20-25 lb., 

 female 16-20 lb. 



Toulovse Geese. — Colour of head, neck, breast, and l)ack is grey; 

 wing and thigh feathers laced faintly with white; T);iunch and stein, 

 white: tail, dark grey, almost black; each feather is laced Avith white; 

 legs and toes, dark orange; bill, pale orange; eves, dark brown or 

 hazel. Male weighs 20-26 lb., female 16-20 lb. 



Cliinesc Geese. — Two varieties, known as Brown Chinese and 

 AVhite Chinese. These are a very beautiful breed; tb(<y are hardy, 

 good foragers, good layers, and tlie young tliiive well. TJte White 

 Chinese. — Colour of both gander and goose": plumage, pure white: 

 shanks and toes orange-yellow; eyes, light blue; beak, orange-yellow; 

 knob at base of beak, orange. Gander weighs 12-14 lb., goose 8-10 lb. 

 The Brown Chinese. — Colour of gander and goose: head, brown; 

 knob, dark brown or black ; bill, black; eyes, hazel or brown; neck, 

 light brown or greyish brown, with dark brown stripe down back of 

 neck from head to body; wing, greyish brown; back, dark broAvn ; 

 tail, greyish brown; breast, greyish brown; body, greyish brown, 

 lighter in shade on under parts; legs and toes, dark orange. 



The Cape Goose. — A very hardy breed, found chiefly in the 

 districts of Clanwilliam, Carnarvon, and such outlying areas. At 

 present it is not possible to state definitely how this bird has been 

 bred. It has characteristics so entirely its own that some consider'able 

 investigation will have to be made prior to attempting to fix its origin. 

 The colour of the male is pure white; eyes, pale or dark blue; legs, 

 orange; and beak, dark orange. The female is grey coloured (very 

 like Toulouse); eyes, dark blue; beak, orange with well-defined line 



