CHINA GEESE. 235 



in purity to none, I am not sure that the following extract from the 

 report of the judges at the New England Society's Show of Poultry, 

 in 1851, at Fitchburg Railroad Depot, Boston, is not applicable to it. 

 The " top-knot," or feathery tuft, which appears on the necks of the 

 females, in particular, and sometimes on those of the males, of my 

 stock, is the same as that specified in the extract. This mark you will 

 observe on the neck of the female, in the portraits accompanying this 

 communication. The judges say : 



" The top-knot descriptions, however, as they were shown by nearly 

 every contributor, presented a feature which might suggest a vagrant 

 cross in their composition. The indefinite location of this top-knot 

 among the specimens shown, furnished your committee with the sug- 

 gestions leading to this doubt. The geese so distinguished, appear to 

 be a cross between the China goose and the anas melanctus, or Black- 

 Backed goose. The descriptions given by the best aiithors, of the 

 latter variety, would augur as much. It is a native of the country to 

 the north of the Ganges, but is now rarely found there. It is com- 

 mon, however, in Ceylon and Madagascar, whence specimens have 

 come to this country. The characteristics, in many particulars, of 

 the Chinese (or Hong Kong) geese, tally with those assigned to the 

 Black-Backed variety -more especially in color of body and feet, and 

 wedged tail feathers." 



It is proper, however, in connection with the correctness of the 

 above extract, to state that the cross presuming it to exist is one 

 that has blended two bloods of equal strength. This is proved in the 

 repeated production of their exact counterparts in color and physical 

 construction, by the breeding stock. 



I hope I have made myself intelligible to you an object I have 

 done my best to arrive at. 



Yours, (fee., C. R. BELCHER. 



East Randolph, Mass., 13th Dec., 1852. 



