1879.] REV. DR. GOODACRE ON THE CHINESE GOOSE. 711 



that they do not absolutely render identity of species improbable. 

 Great as may be the difference of general form, is it greater than 

 that between a Carrier and a Tumbler Pigeon, or between a Grey- 

 hound and a Pug among Dogs ? As to voice, the Call Duck, Trum- 

 peter Pigeon, and Common Dog all afford instances of modification 

 of voice in a greater or less degree, from the normal voice of the 

 Wild Duck and Rock-Dove in the first two cases, while the bark of 

 the Dog is said to be a domestic accomplishment altogether, but is 

 never supposed to divide Dogs into two species, those that bark and 

 those that cannot ; for the young of the latter learn to bark in this 

 country. As to colour, it should be borne in mind that sandy- 

 coloured Geese are not infrequent in some parts. The stripe down 

 the back of the neck of the Chinese Goose is a very distinctive 

 marking ; but it may well be asked if it is necessarily of greater 

 value as a specific distinction than the spinal stripe in certain Horses, 

 especially those of a dun colour. The knob on the base of the bill 

 of the Chinese bird is doubtless the greatest distinguishing mark 

 between the two forms. 



In the opinion of most naturalists, the Grey-lag Goose is the wild 

 original of our common domestic bird ; and from Yarrell we learn 

 that its range extends to China and Japan. The same author also 

 points out its clear grey shoulder as a characteristic of the Grey-lag, 

 distinguishing it from the most nearly allied British wild Geese ; 

 and, curiously enough, this is very evident in the Chinese bird. 

 The trachea of the male in most Swans, Geese, Ducks, and Mer- 

 gansers is a most trustworthy guide as to specific difference : but in 

 the case under consideration it appears to be of little use ; for there is 

 good ground for suspecting that the form of the trachea in the 

 Grey-lag is not constant. Yarrell says : — " In the wild Grey-legged 

 Goose the tube of the windpipe is nearly cylindrical ; and this form 

 of trachea I have frequently found on examination of domestic 

 Geese intended for the table ; but I have frequently also found the 

 tube flattened at the lower portion" (Yarrell' s Brit. Birds, vol. iii. 

 p. 55). The tracheae of two Chinese Ganders which I have myself 

 examined were very slightly swelled and flattened at the lower por- 

 tion. I have not had the opportunity yet of examining that of a 

 Chinese Goose ; the windpipes taken from cross-bred birds con- 

 demned for the kitchen, without regard to sex, have all had a very 

 decided swelling and flattening of the lower portion of the tube. In 

 Chinese Geese there is generally a small rim of white feathers at the 

 base of the bill ; and a broader band is far from uncommon in the 

 ordinary Domestic Goose. This and the swelled and flattened 

 trachea have been rightly looked upon as analogous variations ; but 

 perhaps the cause of their occurrence has been too readily accounted 

 for by Yarrell and others by supposing an admixture of blood from 

 the " White-faced Goose " in the building-up of the domestic form 

 in remote times. May it not be that there is a tendency in the 

 Grey-lag to vary in these directions, and that hence such a tendency 

 reveals itself also in the Chinese form ? 



It may, I know, be asked, If the Chinese form was modified out 

 Proc. Zool. Soc— 1879, No. XLVI. 46 



