294 APPENDIX. 



the rock of Gibraltar. This habit of building in caves fits 

 them particularly for our dove-cotes. Many other wild species 

 of this order might doubtless be domesticated. 



The next order from which is derived an important part of 

 our poultry is that of Anseres. The first genus is that of 

 Cygnus, or Swan. It comprises nine species, of which four 

 are European, two are North American, two are South Ameri- 

 can, and one New Holland. All of these might be domesti- 

 cated with us. The species now domesticated is C. olor. 



The second genus is that of Anser, or Goose. There are 

 eight known species belonging to this genus, of which two, 

 the snow and the white-fronted goose, are common to Europe 

 and America, and five are common to Europe and Asia. The 

 Anser ferus, or common wild goose of Europe, is the stock 

 from which descend nearly all our domestic varieties. All the 

 species of this genus might be introduced into our poultry- 

 yard. 



The third genus of this order is that of Bernicla, or Bar- 

 nacle goose. The most important species of this genus is 

 Bernicla canadensis, or our common wild or Canada goose. 

 Nearly all the species of this genus might be domesticated. 

 Our common Brant, B. brenta, is frequently found in a domes- 

 tic state, along the sea-coast of Massachusetts. 



The fourth genus likely to afford poultry is that of Aix. 

 There are but two species belonging to this genus, viz., A. 

 sponsa, our summer or wood duck, and A. galericulata, the 

 Mandarin duck of China, both of which are occasionally 

 domesticated, and are chiefly valuable as ornaments to pleasure- 

 grounds, on account of their brilliant plumage. 



The fifth genus, that of Mareca or Wigeons, has been 

 almost totally neglected by our poulterers and bird-fanciers, 

 although having very beautiful plumage and excellent flesh; 

 almost all the species would bear domestication perfectly well. 



