Sbo. 9.] P0T7LTRY. 141 



days after they are let out of jail, the geese will make nests and begin their 

 ■work. 



The eggs should be removed carefully every day, and deposited in cotton 

 in a dry, temperate room. Then when all your flock ai'e ready to sit, which 

 they will be about the same day, have cp.paciou3 nests filled with chaffed 

 straw, in which place twelve eggs for cr.ch goose. "Wliere a good many 

 geese are kept, it will pay to have an attendant, who should be careful to 

 allow only one sitter to leave the nest at one time. "When one comes off, 

 shut the doors of the other boxes till she returns. This will prevent con- 

 fusion of getting on the wrong nests. By attention, nearly all the goslings 

 of a large flock may be brought out in one day. 



Goslings should be left in the nest twenty-four Iiours after they hatch, par- 

 ticularly if the weather is rough ; and as they are tender animals, they should 

 be carefull}^ nursed for a month, allowing them a small pool of water to 

 bathe in, and plenty of green grass. The whole anscr family belong to the 

 graziers. It is not necessary to feed goslings on much grain. 



The white China goose is as pure wliite as the Bremen, and should not 

 be mistaken for that — the Bremen is jireferable. 



The Brent and Sandwich Island goose are both very small varieties, well 

 suited to situations on tlie salt water. 



The Berwick goose is said to be a great weed-eater. 



The Canadian or wild goose variety are quite ornamental upon a well- 

 watered location. This breed are greater worm and insect caters than any 

 other variety of the anser family. The hens do not lay until two years old 

 in their domesticated state. 



193. Swans. — This variety of ornamental birds has been but little culti- 

 vated in this countr}'. The greatest collection is at the New York Central 

 Park. This bird, of all others, puts the finishing stroke to the landscape 

 inclosing a still lake w pond. 



There are white and black swans ; both are magnificent, but the white 

 ones are the most showy on the water, where they float l)y tlie hour as still 

 as the water beneath them. Although domestic and tame, swans are apt to 

 go astray— to prevent which the last joint of one wing is skillfully disseciel. 

 They arc weed-feeders, but in places where they are generally kept the}' re- 

 quire feeding. Their feed is most abundant in foul, shallow water, and they 

 are often seen abroad at night in pursuit of food. Besides vegetables, they 

 cat minute insects found in the water, and probably fish-spawn. 



The hen birds are very curioiis about their nests, and will select them, if 

 possible, in some low bushy islet or headland, and under favorable circum- 

 stances will hatch eight or nine young cygneks — the name which young swans 

 are known by. The male birds allow no intruders about the nests or young. 

 A man would find a terrible antagonist if attacked by a swan while swimming. 



Tlie cygnets, when fat, are esteemed a great delicacy upon the table, 

 stuffed with the lean part of a round of beef, seasoned merely witli cayenno 

 pepper and salt, and served with rich gravy and currant jelly. 



