278 On the breeding of the Emperor goose at Gooilust.


under a bush rather far away from the water, and after having sat

on the eggs during twenty-four days one gosling was hatched which

was reared under a hen.


In the spring of last year (1915) this same pair laid again

five eggs in a nest under a conifer far away from the water.


The nest was rather well constructed and after a while con¬

tained a lot of down. During the whole time of incubation the

male was in constant attendance near the nest and made a lot of

fuss if one came near. After twenty-four days of incubation five

goslings were horn, of which one however had a deformed leg so

that it could not walk, and died after a few days.


The goslings in down are of a beautiful peaid-grey, darkest on the

upperside, with black bill and legs. The eggs were white and mostly

of an elongated shape. The goslings which I left with the parents

grew very fast and in a few weeks were completely feathered.


In their first feather dress they were grey all over with white

tails. The grey was more yellowish than with adult birds. The

feathers of the upperside were more pointed and the markings there

and on the breast and sides were only faintly indicated. The legs were

yellowish-black, and the hill also black, hut with the pink shewing

through. The heads were grey without white and they had no black

throats. As soon as the birds were full grown they immediately

began to moult, shedding all the feathers, except the large flight

feathers, including the large tail feathers.


The legs also began to turn orange and the bill to turn pink

and blue, and in autumn the birds had acquired the full dress of

the adults.


The emperor goose is a quiet tame bird, and is quite unag-

gressive to birds of its own species, or to other waterfowl. It

cannot stand the heat very well and on hot days the young ones are

apt to die suddenly. The old birds are also liable to sudden death

so that their numbers have not much increased notwithstanding the

breeding.


The emperor goose is really a most beautiful bird and the

pure white head with black throat and delicate pink and blue

coloured bill is very striking when seen at close quarters.


I daresay most of the readers of the Aviculturcil Magazine



