234 CHINA GEESE. 



after that place ; but those who have been in that region, and have 

 had inducements to observe the fact, concur in stating that there is no 

 ground whatever for the assumption that Hong Kong is their native 

 place. There are no descriptions of tame geese there, and no semi- 

 domesticated or wild varieties that answer the description, in any 

 particular, of the China geese. The breed that I own, which possess 

 great merit, were brought from Tchin Tchu, and have, therefore, the 

 best right to the possession of the euphonious title associating them 

 with the place of their origin. As the cultivation of hard names for 

 fowls, has, of late, been greatly in vogue, the correction of this Hong 

 Kong error may be a matter of consequence, entitling me to some 

 credit a8 its discoverer. Let my deserts be what they may connected 

 with this particular, I am willing to let them abide by the general 

 title, China Geese, which is special enough to designate the variety in 

 question, in my humble opinion, at least 



My stock of China geese exhibit all those external characteristics 

 the best judges assign to the pure breed. The bill is black, with a 

 black or dark-colored protuberance surmounting the base of the upper 

 mandible. A feathered wattle hangs under the throat ; a dark brown 

 stripe proceeds from the back of the head down the neck, until it 

 reaches the upper part of the body between the wings ; the fronts 

 of the neck and the breast, are yellowish grey ; the abdomen is white ; 

 the back, and all the upper parts of the body, are of a dark, greyish 

 color, and the legs dark, with black feet. 



As respects their properties, they grow to the weight of from forty to 

 fifty pounds per pair at mature size say at two years of age. They 

 are very productive ; in fact, in this particular, they excel all other 

 varieties I know. They commence laying very early in the spring 

 season, and continue the production of eggs until late in the year. 

 They are not at all erratic in their notions as to the place they 

 deposit their eggs, but generally confine themselves to whatever 

 locality may be prepared for them to lay in. They hatch three 

 broods every year ; but their eggs in the early part of the year are 

 plentiful, and can be placed under other fowls to be hatched. They 

 are hardv, thoroughly domesticated in their habits, and have no 

 requirements beyond what is common with other descriptions of 

 geese. Various authors class them in the category of swans, and I 

 think they do so with some degree of justification. Their majestic 

 appearance when in the water, the peculiarity of their cry, and other 

 features in their deportment and physical character, give preponde- 

 rance to the idea that they are a species of swan. They are beauti- 

 fully ornamental, and greatly prized in that capacity. They have 

 never been in our markets for sale, as food, but those who have eaten 

 them have been satisfied of .their superiority for the table. At pres- 

 ent, they are too rare and valuable to become, immediately, an article 

 of consumption. Ultimately, however, they will become a very 

 eligible article in the produce of the poultry raiser. At sixteen 

 weeks old, goslings (or cygnets, as the case may be) attain to the 

 weight of fourteen pounds, dressed, and this is by no means a rare 

 thing. 



While I have substantial reason to believe that my stock is inferioi 



