THE DOMESTIC GOOSE. 213 



of such an assertion ? Domestication has not yet in- 

 duced the pigeon nor the Guinea fowl to consort with 

 more than one partner, and the swan, called " domes- 

 tic," by some writers, remains obstinately and even 

 fiercely faithful in its attachments. 



THE DOMESTIC GOOSE. 



SYNOHTTMEB. Jlnser palustris (?.,) of Naturalists ; Oie commune, of the 

 French ; Gemeine Oans, of the Germans ; Ansa do?nestica, of the Span- 

 iards ; Goose, Common Goose, of the English and Anglo-Americans. 



Of the domestic goose there really is but one variety, 

 individuals of which are found varying from entirely 

 white plumage, through different degrees of patched- 

 ness with grey, to entirely grey coloring. The gan- 

 ders are generally, not invariably white. Such are 

 sometimes called " Embden geese," from a town of 

 Hanover, of that name, famous also for groats. High 

 feeding, care, and moderate warmth, will induce a 

 habit of prolificacy, which becomes, in some measure, 

 hereditary. The season of the year at which the 

 young are hatched, influences their future size and 

 development. After allowing for these causes of diver- 

 sity, it will be found that the domestic goose consti- 

 tutes only one species or permanent variety. 



