248 UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 
are descended from the Mallard or Wild Duck (Azas boschas), 
which has a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. 
This bird seems to have been tamed at a later date than the 
Fowl, but it was apparently kept in a state of semi-domestica- 
tion by the Greeks so long ago as the time of Aristophanes 
(448(?)-388 B.c.). From them the Romans appear to have learnt 
its virtues, but we gather from Varro (116-27 B.C.) that in his 
time the taming process was not complete, for he states that 
duck-enclosures should be covered with nets, to prevent the escape 
of their inmates, as well as to exclude predaceous animals. 
Other species 
of duck are also 
domesticated in 
Europe, especially 
the Musk or 
“Muscovy ” Duck 
(Catrina mos- 
chata), native to 
South America. 
THE GOosE 
(ANSER  DOMESTI- 
cus).—Geese have 
been domesticated 
from very remote 
times, on which 
point Darwin remarks (in Animals and Plants under Domestica- 
tron):—‘ That geese were anciently domesticated we know from 
certain verses in Homer; and from these birds having been kept 
(388 B.c.) in the capitol at Rome as sacred to Juno, which sacred- 
ness implies great antiquity”. It is generally held that the tame 
European breeds are descended from the Gray Lag Goose (Auser 
cinereus, fig. 1180), native to Britain and most countries of the 
Continent, and ranging east to China. There are but few domes- 
ticated varieties, and these resemble one another and the parent 
stock more than might be expected; there having been far less 
variation than, eg. in the case of Fowls. The most obvious 
difference between a tame and a wild bird consists in the lighter 
or even perfectly white plumage of the former. 
The soft under-feathers of geese are largely used for stuffing 
pillows and beds, being of greater value in this connection than 
Fig. 1180 —Gray Lag Geese (A nser cinereus) 
