DUCKS AND GEESE 



say, a pendulous flap of skin on the throat, is desired 

 but comparatively few birds show a well developed 

 dewlap. It is more likely to appear with age than 

 it is in the younger birds. In color the Toulouse 

 breeds quite true. The principal difficulty which is 

 encountered is the occasional appearance of one, 

 two or three white flight feathers in the wing. These 

 white flights constitute a disqualification and must 

 of course be avoided in the breeding. It is necessary 

 also to avoid any birds which lack in size, length, 

 breadth or depth of body, particularly depth in 

 front. Birds of this breed are of large size and 

 make quick growth and for this reason are a fine 

 market goose although the dark colored pin feathers 

 are somewhat of a drawback from a market point 

 of view. 



The Embden. This breed is of good size but some- 

 what smaller than the Toulouse. It has not quite so 

 long a keel or underline as the Toulouse and while 

 deep in body it is not so baggy. There should be no 

 dewlap in this breed. The plumage should be pure 

 white throughout, the only difficulty of any impor- 

 tance occurring here being the occasional appear- 

 ance of slate on the backs of young geese. This, 

 however, is not serious as it almost invariably dis- 

 appears with the first moult. Embden geese are 

 rapid growers and mature early which together with 

 the fact that their plumage is white makes them an 

 excellent market bird. 



The African. In type the African is much the 



166 



