DUCKS AND GEESE 



their smaller size but they are much more commonly 

 kept than either the Canadian or the Egyptian and 

 make a good market fowl where the demand is not 

 for such a large carcass. 



In addition to the standard breeds there are sev- 

 eral other rare breeds among which is the Sebasta- 

 pol which is kept purely as an ornamental breed 

 by reason of its peculiar feathering. The Sebasta- 

 pol is a white goose in which the feathers of the 

 upper part of the body show a twisted or frizzled 

 condition which gives it much the general effect of 

 the feathers being curled. In addition to the stand- 

 ard breeds of geese there are kept on a great major- 

 ity of farms ordinary common geese of no definite 

 breed or variety. These geese in general are of 

 smaller size than the larger standard breeds and 

 have probably arisen as the result of the crossing of 

 the standard breeds and the subsequent deteriora- 

 tion in size and color marking is due to careless 

 breeding and selection. 



In some sections and for certain special purposes 

 definite crosses of standard breeds are made for the 

 production of table geese having certain desired 

 qualities. For this purpose the African ganders are 

 very popular used upon the Toulouse geese. To some 

 extent there is produced and marketed a goose 

 known as the mongrel goose. This has excellent 

 table quality and is in good demand on account of 

 its superior eating qualities and its rapid growth. It 

 is produced by using the Wild or Canadian gander 



148 



