THE DOMESTIC GOOSE. 



common fowl has been equally praised for filling this 

 important function ; but the eggs of the goose being 

 very large, and their shell very hard, a hen is not bulky 

 enough to hatch more than eight or ten, even if we 

 employ the Cochin-China, or great Malay. The tur- 

 key hen, therefore, deserves to be preferred, because 

 she can hatch twelve or fifteen. This function of the 

 goose being thus filled by another, she is not kept from 

 laying, and yields eggs in great abundance. 



Tn the environs of Toulouse, in France, where many 

 hybrid geese are reared, increasing with the common 

 duck and the large musk duck, they give the eggs to 

 the common fowl to hatch ; and to these are added 

 two or three of the large-sized goose eggs. The hy- 

 brid bird from this crossing conducts the goslings in a 

 superior manner, and always walks at their head. 



CARE OF THE GOSLINGS. 



LIKE turkey chickens, goslings are a month in hatch- 

 ing, and must be taken from under the mother, lest, if 

 feeling the young ones under her, she might perhaps 

 leave the rest of the tardy brood still unhatched. After 

 having separated them from her, they may be kept in 

 flat pens, or baskets, covered with a cloth, and lined 

 with wool ; and when the whole brood is come forth, 

 the first hatched may be returned to the mother. 



On the first day after the goslings are hatched, they 

 may be let out, if the weather be warm, care being 

 taken not to let them be exposed to the unshaded heat 

 of the sun, which might kill them. The food given 

 is prepared with some barley or Indian meal, coarsely 

 ground, bran, and raspings of bread, which are still 

 better, if soaked and boiled in milk, or lettuce .leaves, 

 and crusts of bread boiled in milk. 



Afterwards, advantage must be taken of a fine warm 

 sun to turn them out for a few hours ; but cold and 

 rain being very hurtful to them, they must in bad 

 weather be cooped up, and prevented from mixing with 

 the larger ones, unless they have strength enough to 



