THE



357



Avicultural Magazine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



Third Series .— -Vol. VI.—No. 12. —All rights reserved. OCTOBER, 1915.



THE RUDDY HEADED GOOSE.


Chloephaga rubidiceps.


By Hubert D. Astley.


As Mr. F. E. Blaauw and I wrote about the Ruddy headed goose

in our magazine of June, 1913 (3rd series, Vol. IV. No. 8) I will not

do more than remind our members that this extremely handsome

goose is the smallest of its genus {Chloephaga = e ater of grass), and

has never been anything but rare in captivity. A native of the

southern parts of South America and the Falkland Islands, it is a

migrating species. It has been observed in flocks in Tierra del

Fuego, and is a summer visitor in the country behind Punta Arenas,

breeding on the rough land to the west of the town.


In captivity this goose is absolutely hardy and easy to keep,

so long as it has a run of fresh grass.


It is also a free breeder, one of my two pairs having had

three clutches of eggs one season, owing to my removing the eggs to

be incubated by a hen. The goslings are easily reared on poultry

meal and chopped clover, dandelion leaves, etc.


Mr. Blaauw notes that some of the adult males have a beau¬

tiful pearl-grey colour about the underparts instead of the bright

fox-red. Although I have bred a fair number, I have never observed

this myself.


In winter time I give my geese some melox, which they

greatly appreciate.



