GREY-LAG GOOSE. 147 



plumage the marks which belong to, and distinguish the 

 true Grey-lag species, was, in the season of 1841, bought 

 and put down to him. The pair were confined together by 

 themselves for a few days, became immediately very good 

 friends, and a sitting of eight eggs was the consequence. 

 The offspring were prolific. 



At the first exhibition of domestic poultry and water- 

 fowl at the Gardens of the Zoological Society, in the Re- 

 gent's Park, at the end of May, 1845, there was a fine 

 specimen of the wild Grey-lag Goose, sent from India by 

 Mr. Blyth to Mr. Bartlett, who exhibited the bird. The 

 next coop contained the finest and the heaviest pair 

 of domestic Geese, sent by Mr. Nolan, from Dublin. It 

 was most obvious that these domestic birds were derived 

 from the Grey-lag Goose. The pinky flesh colour of the 

 beak and the white nail ; the distribution of the markings 

 of the plumage generally ; the large blue grey space on 

 the anterior portion of the wing ; the flesh colour of the 

 legs and feet ; and the voice, were alike in both. The 

 half-bred geese, previously referred to as bred by the So- 

 ciety, were also exactly similar. It will be observed that 

 I have resumed the old name of Grey-lag Goose, be- 

 lieving that the term lag, as applied to this goose, is either 

 a modification of the English word lake, the Latin, lacus, 

 or perhaps an abbreviation of the Italian, lago ; from 

 which latter country it is even probable that we might 

 originally have obtained this our domesticated race. The 

 candidus anser of Lucretius,* which, by its cackling, ex- 

 cited the attention of the guard, and saved the Roman 

 Capitol, was, perhaps, of the same race as those we pos- 

 sess at the present time ; as it must be admitted to be 

 very likely, that after the Romans had established them- 

 selves in this country, they would introduce many of their 

 * Horace mentions as a dainty, the liver of a white goose fed on rich figs. 



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