557 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



GEESE. 



There are at least three breeds of wild geese known in Europe, the Grey-lag (probably a cor- 

 ruption of grey-legged) Goose, the Bean Goose, and the Pink-footed Goose ; but there is very little 

 doubt entertained by any one that the origin of our English domestic bird is to be sought solely in 

 the Grey-lag Goose. The Bean Goose closely resembles this species, it is true ; so very closely, 

 indeed, that it is only distinguishable on careful examination, and chiefly by the lesser length of the 

 bill and somewhat greater length of the wings ; but though it hence becomes exceedingly probable 

 that both varieties, and possibly the Pink-footed Goose as well, had one common but still more 

 ancient wild progenitor, it scarcely admits of question that through the Grey-lag only have our 

 domestic breeds been developed. The Grey-lag alone breeds freely with the domestic goose, and 

 produces thoroughly fertile progeny ; and is, moreover, of larger size than the Bean Goose, which is 

 the only one of the other varieties that could possibly lay any claim to the honour. 



The conclusion thus come to, as we have said, by every competent naturalist, is the more 

 remarkable from the fact that the Grey-lag is now comparatively rare in Britain, the smaller Bean 

 Goose being far more common: indeed, nearly all the so-called "wild geese" now brought to 

 market are of the latter variety ; the Grey-lag being chiefly found in Europe at the present day in 

 the Orkney and Shetland Islands and on the coasts of Norway, though not so common in Europe 

 alone. It is, however, perhaps more generally distributed than even the wild duck, ranging not 

 only over Northern, or rather temperate Europe (since it is rarely found further north than 

 55 degrees), but even in Northern Africa, Asia Minor, and Asia itself, being a regular visitor to 

 Northern India. Mr. Blyth states that the regular domestic goose throughout India is in fact an 

 evident hybrid between the Grey-lag {Anser cinercus) and the Chinese Goose (Anscr cygnoides), 

 and that the progeny is fertile and breeds true. 



In the migrations of wild geese, the V-shaped phalanx is even more marked than in the case 

 of the ducks, the ranks being rarely broken, whereas a flight of ducks frequently breaks up for a 

 while into a confused mass, and continues thus for some time before the line is reformed. With 

 geese, on the contrary, the line is generally kept till the flock is lost to sight in the distance. They 

 also differ from ducks in seeking an almost exclusively vegetable diet, and passing accordingly 

 much more time upon the land than most ducks do. Most wild breeds lay from eight to ten eggs, 

 and the period of incubation is believed to be thirty days. 



With these few remarks upon the wild species, we may proceed at once to the two chief 

 domestic varieties, respecting which we have again to express our obligations to Mr. J. K. Fowler 

 for the following practical notes : — 



EMBDEN GEESE. — "It is difficult to say which should stand first in point of merit of 

 the two varieties of geese which we now possess, but I will commence with the White Embden 

 Goose, named from Embden, in Westphalia. This bird should be a pure and spotless white in 



