446 THE WHITE CHINA GOOSE. 



the Jungle Fowl been as yet bridged over by any isthmus to 

 me visible. But what may be said on this latter subject is, 

 for the present, reserved. The principle here sought to be in- 

 dicated as a guide for future research, is, that existing varieties 

 and species which cannot be exactly identified in a wild state, 

 are, in all probability, the remains of extinct races, the frag- 

 ments of a ruin, not newly-raised " seedlings/' modern sports 

 and freaks of Nature. Man, as he extends his dominion over 

 earth and ocean, is generally a Destroyer, occasionally an En- 

 slaver, and so far a Protector, hence sometimes even a Selecter 

 and Improver, but never a Creator. 



And now to the White China Geese, about whose lineage 

 the reader, we hope, is by this time interested. 



My attention was first directed to these singular birds by 

 Mr. Alfred Whitaker, of Beckington, Somerset. " I wish you 

 could have seen the white variety or species, as it is so far su- 

 perior in every respect to the brown. The period of incubation 

 of the White China Goose was not more than thirty days, i. e. 

 not longer than that of the Common Duck. The White China 

 Goose is of a spotless pure white" a very few gray feathers 

 have since appeared " more swan-like than the brown variety, 

 with a bright orange-coloured bill, and a large orange-coloured 

 knob at its base. It is a particularly beautiful bird, either in 

 or out of the water, its neck being long, slender, and gracefully 

 arched when swimming. It breeds three or four times in the 

 season ; but I was not successful with them, owing, as I fancied, 

 to my having no water for them, except a rapid running stream. 

 A quiet lake I believe to be more to their taste, and more con- 

 ducive to the fecundity of the Eggs. I believe my birds are 

 still in the neighbourhood, as I lent them to a farmer to try 

 his luck with them. The Egg is quite small for the size of 

 the bird, being not more than half the size of that of the Com- 

 mon Goose. This bird deserves to rank in the first class of 

 ornamental Poultry, and would be very prolific under favourable 



