298 APPENDIX. 



yard is the Peacock, which is of no use, except for admir- 

 ing eyes to look upon. I need not describe the brilliancy 

 of its plumage, the color of its various dyes, nor the un- 

 surpassing elegance of its form. These are familiar to 

 all. To use the words of a writer in the second volume 

 of the " American Agriculturist," it is " idle and vagrant 

 in its habits, mischievious in its propensities, and of little 

 utility either in its carcass or its eggs ; it is tolerant 

 alone for its gorgeous display of plumage, and the showy 

 splendor of its attitudes. I have kept them many years, 

 and every year of my observation, only confirms in my 

 mind the truth of the ancient proverb applied to the 

 bird. ' It has the plumage of an angel, the voice of a 

 devil, and the maw of a thief.' They are destructive in 

 the garden, vindictive and quarrelsome among other 

 poultry, without either merit of bravery, or energy of 

 defence. Yet, after all, I like them ; they make a beau- 

 tiful show among the poultry, and add to the infinite and 

 delightful variety of animated creatures, with which a 

 kind Providence has blessed our vision." 



Of the kind of Geese, I think the Bremen, crossed 

 with the common China variety, the most profitable. 

 They make a splendid bird ; but I would never breed 

 their hybrid progeny, if I could avoid it, beyond the first 

 cross, except for the table. 



Geese may be kept to advantage where there is a 

 pond, or plenty of running water ; but without these, the 

 rearing of goslings never ought to be attempted, although 

 they have been successfully raised without these — it 

 cost more than it came to. 



I have a few White, China Geese, which, with care- 

 ful feeding and protection, lay nearly the whole year 

 round. They can only be kept to advantage in a warm 

 climate where the eggs could be hatched under a com- 

 mon hen. 



The observation on geese will apply with equal force 

 to Ducks — without a pond or running stream, it is not 

 worth while to keep them ; and unless they get some 

 portion of their living out of the water, as cockles, 

 mussels, weeds, &c, it is doubtful whether they afford 

 much if any profit. Besides the common varieties, I 



