92 THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



menced breeding the second year. He states their period of incubation to 

 be only twenty-eight days, which is a much shorter period than a person 

 would naturally suppose. In a domestic or confined state they do not breed, 

 as a general thing, until they are at least two years old, while in a wild state 

 they breed when they are from fifteen to sixteen months old. 



The American wild goose is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful birds 

 of the feathered tribe, universally known over the whole broad extent of our 

 country, and their regular migrations are a sure signal of approaching win- 

 ter or the return of spring time. The head, two-thirds of the neck, the 

 larger quills, the rump and tail are jet black ; the back and wings are brown, 

 the edges of the wings being a lightish-brown ; the under plumage and base 

 of the neck are a brownish-gray ; the eyes are encircled with white feathers, 

 while a kidney-shaped cravat of white feathers forms a conspicuous mark on 

 the throat ; the upper and under tail coverts are pure white, bill and feet 

 black ; while its delicate and swan-like neck gives this bird a majestic and 

 beautiful appearance. Their autumnal flight lasts from the middle of August 

 to the middle of November, and the vernal flight from the middle of April 

 to the middle of May. 



WILSON says that, " except in calm weather, the flocks of American wild 

 geese rarely sleep on the water, generally preferring to roost all night in the 

 marshes. When the shallow bays are frozen over, they seek the mouths of 

 inlets near the sea, occasionally visiting the air or breathing holes in the ice ; 

 but these bays are seldom so completely frozen as to prevent their feeding on 

 the bars at the entrance." A friend of ours, residing in Chenango county, 

 several years ago, shot and wounded a large gander of this species, clipped 

 his wings, (one of which, we think, was broken,) and placed him with his 

 flock of common gray geese, which paired, and from which he bred a beauti- 

 ful cross-breed, which were quite a novelty to look upon. The gander seemed 

 to be perfectly contented with his new-found mates, and did not, after a short 

 time, evince any disposition to be freed from the bounden fetters of domesti- 

 cation. 



EMBDEN OR BREMEN GEESE. 



These beautiful aquatic birds were first introduced into this country in 1821 

 by Col. SAMUEL JAQUES of Boston, Mass. They were imported direct from 

 Holland ; but the appellation of Embden is said to have been obtained from 

 the town of that name in Hanover. We have seen, on several occasions, fine 

 specimens of these geese at the New-York State and other fairs. The flesh 

 of these geese is very different from that of our domestic variety, for it does 

 not partake of that dry character which belongs to other and more common 

 kinds, but is as tender and juicy when brought to the table as that of our 

 wild fowls, and is less liable to shrink in the process of cooking. Epicures 

 aver that the flesh of these geese is not inferior to that of the Canvas-back 

 duck. These fowls are often bred to weigh from seventeen to twenty pounds 

 and upwards. The young are easily reared, with very little care, in almost 



