i88 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



begin when they are getting their feathers. In the case of a 

 pair in a small yard, it would be safe to offer food, the same 

 as for ducklings, though usually they will not touch it, 

 unless hard pressed. Their natural diet seems to be largely 

 from grazing, and they industriously eat grass and dig up 

 roots. They are hardy, too, and usually thrive without 

 trouble. There should also be shade accessible, either 

 bushes or prepared shelters, as without such they are quite 

 liable to succumb. 



Goose Farming. The most successful breeder of wild 

 geese on a large scale in this country is J. W. Whealton, on 

 Chincoteague Island, Virginia. This is a large island, 

 seven by two and one half miles, on a marshy coast, sur- 

 rounded by shallow bays and sounds which are natural 

 feeding grounds and are resorted to in fall and winter by 

 great numbers of fowl. Many years ago Doctor Whealton 

 picked up some wounded wild Canada geese, as well as 

 ducks, and started to breed them. In course of time he has 

 worked out a most interesting and successful system of 

 wild-goose farming. It is quite unique, but could probably 

 be duplicated on coastal islands under somewhat similar 

 conditions. I have not yet visited the island, but this has 

 been done by C. William Beebe, of the New York Zoological 

 Park, who in the New York Zoological Society Bulletin for 

 October, 1909, has presented a most informing account of 

 the methods employed, from which I glean the following 

 information : 



The Stock. Beginning with one pair originally, his 

 stock of Canada geese alone was at that time, 1909, some 

 450 birds. Inbreeding was avoided by introducing wild 

 captive ganders from time to time, which breed at once 

 with the tamed females, whereas wild females might not 

 breed for years. These geese, in flocks of from four to fifty, 



