THE OniNESB Q003E.] 



POULTET. 



[the ciiikese aooss. 



aud the back of the neck as far as tlio 

 bliouKlera, are of a dark brown ; tho breast ia 

 slaty blue, and the belly and uiider-surface of 

 the tail arc grey. Tlio bill is oraii<^e-red, and 

 tho feet are llesli colour. This bird is sup- 

 posed to bo the unmixed and itnmediato de- 

 scendant of tho grey-lag. In its habits it 

 resembles its congeners, but appears to possess 

 a milder and more easy disposition. Of its 

 other peculiarities, it may be remarked, tiiat 

 the curl of plumage on the neck cornea closer 

 to the head tlian in the common goose, aud 

 that the abdominal pouch, which, in other 

 varieties, is attendant only upon age, exists in 

 these birds from the shell. The white Irish 

 goose is fully larger than the Toulouse. 



THE CHINESE GOOSE. 



A Ci/gnoides. — Of the Chinese goose there 

 are three sub-varieties, each presenting strik- 

 ing points of difference, and yet sufficiently 

 alike to justify their being classed together. 

 These are — The Hong-Kong, which has a 

 large horny knob on the bill and forehead. 

 Its prevailing colour is grey, with a longi- 

 tudinal stripe, of a deep brown, running 

 above the back of the neck. The legs are of 

 a red colour, whence it is sometimes dis- 

 tinguished as the "Red-legged China goose;" 

 and has long been known amongst us as the 

 " Poland goose." The Black-legged Chinese 

 Goose. — Also knobbed, and usually with a 

 white edging round the hnoh, somewhat similar 

 to that of the wild breed called the " AVhite- 

 frouted goose." The White Chinese Goose. — 

 A very handsome bird, knobbed like the rest, 

 of snow-white colour, and with legs of a bright 

 orange-red. These geese are all smaller than 

 the Toulouse; but they are, nevertheless, very 

 fine birds. The white variety, especially, with 

 red legs, is very beautiful, and forms an appro- 

 priate ornament on a piece of water. The 

 flesh is also good, and they feed well, fatten 

 easily, aud are very prolific. Of our ordinary 

 domestic geese there exist but two sorts, the 

 only distinction of which seems to rest in their 

 relative size. They are divided into the large 

 and small ; and by some, according to their 

 colour, into the ivhite and the grey. These di- 

 visions are, to a certain extent, arbitrary ; as 

 out of one clutch, several varieties, both as to 

 size and colour, will generally be found. The 



best sorts of geeso, however, are those which 

 vary least in colour. Those approaching most 

 nearly to tho [)riinitivo stock, are the birds 

 which every good judge will prefer breeding 

 from. Grey is tho best colour, as coming 

 nearest to tho original groy-lag: white is not 

 quite 80 good ; but mixed colours are not so 

 prolific, and the young are more difficult to feed 

 up to tho required standard. Markhaiii says* 

 " the largest is the best; and the colour should 

 be white or grey, all of one paire ; for pycd geese 

 are not so comfortable, and black are worse." 



In reference to mating the gander, it ia 

 observed by Mr. Richardson, " that this en- 

 tirely depends upon the object which tho 

 breeder has in view. If eggs are wanted, one 

 gander is plenty for six or even eight geese; 

 or he may abandon the unnecessary trouble of 

 keeping a male at all, and only occasionally 

 send his geese to his neighbour's. It so hap- 

 pens, however, that keeping geese for the pro- 

 duce of their eggs alone is not profitable; and 

 hence these must be rendered duly fertile. To 

 effect this, one gander to a large number of 

 geese will not answer. For the purpose of 

 hatching, a gander should bo mated with, at 

 most, four geese. If of the ordinary kind, 

 amongst which colour varies, he should bo of a 

 pure white, or ash-grey colour ; but not at all 

 of two colours. His dimensions should be 

 large, his gait active, his eyes lively and clear, 

 his voice ever ready and hoarse, and his de- 

 meanour full of boldness. The goose should 

 be chosen for her tceight of body, steadiness of 

 deportment, and breadth of foot — a quality 

 which indicates the presence of other excel- 

 lences. In one season the goose lays from ten 

 to twenty eggs; and, should she noc be desired 

 to sit, by removing the eggs as fast as she lays 

 them, and at the same time feeding her highly, 

 she may be induced to continue laying to the 

 number of forty-five, or even fifty. This is, 

 however, unusual, as well as unprofitable. 

 When tolerably well looked after, geese may 

 be made to lay, and even hatch, three times in 

 the year. "When this is desired, the plan to 

 pursue is only to feed highly, and house them 

 well, and early in the spring, so as to have 

 the first brood soon in March ; but we would 

 rather have two good clutches reared than 

 three bad ones ; and therefore recommend pa- 

 tience aud moderation." 



875 



