DUCKS AND GEESE 



slender. These birds mate only in pairs as a rule 

 and the females do not mature and lay until they 

 are three years old. The ganders often breed when 

 they are two years old. Usually only a single sitting 

 of eggs is laid consisting of from 4 to 8. Usually, 

 however, all of these eggs will hatch and the young 

 prove to be strong and easily reared. 



The Egyptian. This is the smallest of the stand- 

 ard breeds of geese. In type it more nearly ap- 

 proaches the Canadian than any other breed but it 

 is somewhat longer in legs, showing more of the 

 thigh beneath the body. The body is not carried in 

 quite such a horizontal position as the Canadian but 

 slopes downward slightly from the breast to the 

 tail. The neck is neither so long nor quite so slender 

 as that of the Canadian. This breed is the brightest 

 colored of any of the geese and breeds fairly true in 

 color and markings. Like the Canadian the Egyp- 

 tian goose is likely to become uneasy at times and 

 one wing should therefore be pinioned or the flight 

 feathers clipped to keep the birds from flying away. 

 Like the Canadian the Egyptians mate in pairs only 

 and lay but one sitting during the year. The females 

 do not lay until they are three years old. 



Neither the Egyptian nor the Canadian geese 

 should be closely confined or no eggs will be laid. 

 The goose should be allowed to make her own nest 

 and hatch her eggs. 



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