248 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



elongated form than in the common goose ; bill 

 three inches in length, by two inches in depth 

 at the base ; in color a clear orange-vermilion, 

 the nail at its extremity being white, irides dark 

 brown ; orbit large, and of the same color as the 

 bill. The plumage of head and neck ash-gray, 

 the latter showing ' the curl' in a very marked 

 manner. Throat a light tint of gray ; breast, 

 back, and thighs dark grayish-brown, with a 

 margin of white, more or less distinct, on each 

 feather. Greater wing-coverts brown; lesser 

 wing-coverts a light gray. Primary wing-feath- 

 ers, of which the second is the longest, ash-gray, 

 becoming very dark rich brown at their extrem- 

 ities, the shaft being a clear white ; secondaries 

 and tertials dark leaden-brown ; scapulars the 

 same, with a narrow light edge. Under part 

 of the body white ; tail-coverts white ; tail-feath- 

 ers brown, with broad white band at the ex- 

 tremity. Legs and feet reddish-yellow ; claws 

 dusky. The wings, when folded, about half an 

 inch shorter than the tail. 



"The orbit, in both its form and color, the 

 general tone of plumage, the color of the bill 

 and legs, the particular light marking of the 

 lesser wing-coverts, and the wings, which fall 

 short of the tail, are points of resemblance be- 

 tween the Toulouse and the Gray -leg goose." 



It has already been said that geese are much 

 given to grazing, but we have not said that they 

 improve the pasture. This is the case, although 

 there is an old misquoted proverb to the effect 

 that "nothing will eat after a goose," whereas 

 the auxiliary verb should be can and not will. 

 The fact is, the goose will thrive on pasture so 

 short that a goat would starve on it ; and the 

 consequence is a short sweet herbage. 



In the event of any one being induced by our 

 account to keep geese, let us recommend him 

 not to begin with young birds. They are not 

 to be depended upon for breeding until the third 

 year, and do not attain their perfection for a 

 year or two subsequent to that age. When 

 once in their prime they never retrograde, so 

 that, barring accidents, a person possessed of a 

 gander and three or four geese (no way related 

 to each other, and in their prime of days), may 

 consider himself set up in the anserine for 

 life. 



THE EMBBEN OR BREMEN GOOSE. 



To Colonel Samuel Jaques, of Ten Hills 

 Farm, near Boston, are we indebted for the first 

 introduction of this very valuable and useful 

 variety of water-fowl. They are originally from 

 Holland, and the appellation of Embden has 

 been obtained from the town of that name in 

 Hanover. Beyond their great size, and the uni- 

 form clear white of their plumage, we are at a 

 loss for any sign of a specific difference between 

 these and the common goose. In figure they 

 are alike, and the bill and legs are of the same 

 brick-dust hue; the permanency of these ad- 

 vantages, however (that we have just alluded 

 to), may justify our speaking of them as a sub- 

 variety. 



One of their great advantages is this that 

 all the feathers being perfectly white, their val- 

 ue, where many are kept, is far greater in the 

 market than is ever the case with "mixed" 

 feathers. In weight, too, these birds have great 

 advantage over the common goose. All white 

 poultry, again, are considered to " dress" that 

 is, to pluck, of a clearer and better appearance 

 than colored birds. 



The quality of the flesh of the Embden geese 

 is equal in flavor to the famous Toulouse of 

 France. The Embden is the earliest layer, and 

 frequently rears two broods in one season, the 

 young ones proving as hardy as any other. The 

 Embden goose has prominent blue eyes, is re- 

 markably strong in the neck, and the feathers, 

 from near the shoulder to the head, are far 

 more curled than is generally seen in other 

 birds. 



The quiet domestic character of the Embden 

 geese causes them to lay on flesh rapidly ; they 

 never stray from their home, the nearest pond 

 and field satisfying their wants, and much of 

 their time is spent in a state of quiet repose. 



The following account of the first importation 

 of these birds, was communicated by S. Jaques, 

 Jun., to the editor of "Dixon's Ornamental 

 Poultry," in 1850. He says: "In the winter 

 of 1820, a gentleman, a stranger, made a brief 

 call at my father's house ; and, in conversation, 

 casually mentioned that, during his travels in 

 the interior of Germany, he had noticed a pure 



