BREEDS AND VARIETIES 



same as the Toulouse although not quite as large 

 being about the size of the Embden. What is de- 

 sired is a low down body which is flat in keel and 

 without any folds of skin. The neck should be short. 

 This bird unlik6 the Toulouse is characterized by a 

 knob or protuberance extending out from the head 

 at the base of the upper bill. This knob should be 

 black in color and should show no tinge of yellow 

 on the top or about the base. If the knob gets 

 scarred or injured it is apt to turn yellow and freez- 

 ing likewise is apt to cause it to turn yellow. Birds 

 of this breed both young and old should show dew- 

 laps, the absence of these in adult specimens consti- 

 tuting a disqualification. As in the Toulouse avoid 

 any white flight feathers. The African makes an 

 excellent market goose being like the Embden and 

 Toulouse, quick growing and early maturing. The 

 ganders are especially in favor for use in crossing 

 with other ' varieties for the production of market 

 geese. It seems probable that some Brown Chinese 

 blood has been crossed into the Africans on various 

 occasions probably for the purpose of increasing 

 the prolificacy of the African as the Brown Chinese 

 is an excellent layer. It is also true that crosses be- 

 tween the Brown Chinese and the Toulouse are 

 sometimes shown for Africans but as a rule this 

 cross results in too dark a bird and such crosses 

 should never be used for breeding purposes since 

 they would not continue to give the uniformity and 

 other qualities obtained in the first generation. 



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