140 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



cygnets they are of a blueish or slate color, and do not attain a 

 perfect plumage till a year or two old, or breed till the third or fourth 

 year. During the time the water is open, free of ice, they will get 

 much of their food on the edges of the pond, often feeding on small 

 fish, using the frogs as a desert. Should the frog prove too large, 

 the mate comes in for a share, and each taking hold of a hind leg he 

 is about equally divided between the two. At the time of placing 

 the pair in the pond the frogs had almost taken possession of the 

 pond in its circling bounds, while now nearly all have vanished except 

 the old aldermanic inhabitants, who, the swans are aware, would 

 prove a little too tough for a relish. The swan would withstand the 

 cold of our winters, but, since on land they coiild not defend them- 

 selves against dogs and vermin, it would be cruel to leave them 

 exposed — they are safely housed for the winter, with the liberty of a 

 range during pleasant days. Their principal food is corn, though they 

 will eat almost any kind of grain. In the. summer they require but 

 little food, yet this little they must have regularly or you may chance 

 to lose them. During the winter they are small feeders, and these as 

 well as the wild and China geese seem to (as it were) be in a partial 

 dormant state, particularly if the premises are kept well darkened. 

 A pair of swans, six wild geese and two tame geese do not eat more 

 than about one quart of corn per day ; if an excess in quantity is 

 given it is almost certain to be left. Wild geese are the smallest 

 eaters, and it has often been a puzzle to know how they could subsist 

 on the merest quantity of food, during the long winter months. 



In addition to the premiums already named to S. Southwick and 

 E. P. Mollis, for their collections, the judges recommend a discretion- 

 ary premium to Isaac Osgood, West Newton, $3. 



Division 31. — Buff Shanghai's to Thomas Smith, Dedhara, $3. 

 Division 32. — Black Spanish, Rupp, Hunt & Co., Wilmington, $3; 

 H. P. Perrin, Brookline, for do., $2 ; Discretionary to Eben Wight, 

 Dedham, for do., $2. Best Hamburghs, to J. W. Hunt, North Bridge- 

 water, $3 ; second best, to H. P. Perrin, Brookline, for do., $2. 

 Best Games, to Hupp, Hunt & Co., Wilmington, $3; second best, to 

 C. F. Curtis, Jamaica Plain, for do., $2. Best Black Bantams, to 

 Eben Wight, Dedham, $3. Best White Bantams, to Eben Wight, 

 Dedham, $3. Bolton Grays, to George Dorr, Dorchester, $3 ; second 

 best, to J. H. Bent, Concord, for do., $2 ; Discretionary for collection 

 to C. R. Damon, Cocliituate, $3. 



Division 35. — Aylesbury Ducks, to William Bent, Cocliituate, 

 $3. Isaac Osgood, for Frizzled Fowls, $2. 



Division 36. — Best Bremen, to AV. G. Lewis, Framingham, $3 ; 

 second best, to A. S. Lewis, Framingham, for do., $2 ; Discretionary 



