On the breeding of the Emperor goose at Gooilust. 277


The coo of this bird has a resemblance to that of the wood-


pigeon in sound and delivery, but has only three notes, “ cooo.


ko.coo-ooo ’’


M. Delacour describes the spot-winged pigeon as having grey

beak and legs, but Colwnba maculosa, although its beak is grey, has

red feet; whilst G. speciosa has yellowish feet and bill.


Monsieur Delacour wrote these notes on the hybrid pigeons

especially for our Magazine, and our grateful thanks are due to him,

for he is serving his country on the battle-fields. EDITOR.



ON THE BREEDING OF THE EMPEROR

GOOSE AT GOOILUST.


Philacte canagica


By F. E. Blaauw.


Emperor geese had been one of my desiderata ever since I

have kept waterfowl, and when some years ago the Zoological Society

of London received the first pair ever imported alive I did not get


green with envy but. I thought that a great mistake had been


made, of which I was the sufferer! This pair, however, proved to

be very “disappointing” as Mr. Seth-Smith expressed it. The

birds did not keep together and perhaps were not a true pair. No

result of any kind was attained. After this importation, or perhaps

at the same time, a pair came to the Berlin Zoological Gardens

where it did not live long, and then six birds arrived at Woburn

Abbey. Not long afterwards I at last received a pair myself and

then through accident I may say I got two more pairs.


I had sent some rare waterfowl to an American fancier and

this gentleman offered me two pairs of emperor geese in exchange.

A welcome offer which I gladly accepted.


The first pair I got was of the London Zoo variety ; they

were “ disappointing,” they did not keep together, the male preferring

Sandwich Island geese, no matter of which sex, to his lawful mate.

On the arrival of the four new birds matters bettered for her and

she soon paired with one of the males.


On the following spring (1914) this same female made a nest



