320 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



The Indian Runners have been known to lay at less 

 than four and a half months of age. The more usual 

 period is from five to five and one half months, and in 

 case of late hatching they sometimes go seven months 

 before laying, beginning in February, if not earlier. 



The Beginner who desires to make a specialty of ducks 

 will be wise to buy a duck book and to become familiar 

 with its contents before investing or attempting the work. 

 Rankin's " Duck Book " is an old standard authority, 

 and the present writer publishes a small book on Indian 

 Runners. 



The American Standard of Perfection recognizes seven 

 varieties of geese in six breeds : Embden, Toulouse, 

 African, Chinese, Canadian, or wild and Egyptian. The 

 decorative or fancy sort known as Sebastopol is not a 

 Standard variety. The adult gander in Toulouse, Emb- 

 dens, and Africanshas astandardweightof twenty pounds. 

 The adult Chinese and Canadian ganders weigh up to 

 twelve pounds and the Egyptians to ten pounds. 



I know of no other of the lower animals so nearly 

 human in many of its characteristics as the goose. The 

 Beginner who learns as much as possible of the habits 

 of geese before attempting goose culture is the one who 

 will have best promise of success. It is quite necessary 

 to know what might be called the " habits of thought." 

 Geese are more stubborn than even the most stubborn 

 of mankind — which seems utterly needless — and it 

 often becomes necessary to use finesse and skill in order 

 to lead them on in proper subjection while still permit- 

 ting them to follow their own whims sufficiently to render 

 them content and happy. 



Expert poultrymen are a unit in agreeing that com- 



