AQUATIC FOWLS. 



255 



THE CHINESE GOOSE. 



with their din before he captured them alive, 

 and the family must be deaf indeed that could 

 sleep on through the alarm thus given. 



Though a native of a warm climate, this bird 

 appears very well naturalized in this country; 

 the only, or greatest objection to them is their 

 early laying, which often occurs in the dead of 

 winter. It will couple and breed with the com- 

 mon goose, but there would be no improvement 

 on either side. 



The Chinese geese are much smaller than 

 the common goose ; but what they lack in size 

 they make up in prolificness. "They are val- 

 ued in this country," says Main, " as they are in 

 their own, for their early breeding and aptitude 

 to fatten." They begin laying at the end of 

 November, if the -season be mild, and in Janu- 

 ary goslings are hatched ; and, if kept in a dry, 

 warm room, may be fit for the table in April or 

 May. 



The specimen from which our portrait was 

 taken has been in our possession for many years. 

 She was imported from China, and we obtained 



her direct from the ship, and is the one before 

 spoken of in a previous page. She once com- 

 menced laying in the month of November, and 

 continued until she had produced over forty 

 eggs. 



Some beautiful specimens of this variety were 

 brought out from China by Fletcher Webster, 

 Esq., and taken to the Home Farm at Marsh- 

 field, some ten or twelve years ago. We also 

 noticed some beautiful specimens exhibited at 

 the Fair of our State Agricultural Society, held 

 at Poughkeepsie a few years since, by Mr. 

 Mazier, of Fishkill. 



THE WHITE CHINESE GOOSE. 



This bird is infinitely more beautiful and at- 

 tractive than its dusky relations. It is larger in 

 size, not quite so erect in its carnage, and bet- 

 ter merits the term "cygnoides" swan-like 

 than any other member of the species. We first 

 noticed the White Chinese goose, some twen- 

 ty-five years ago, at the residence of the late 

 Charles Henry Hall, at Harlem, who was a great 



