ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



579 



told from the pure Snow Goose, only by the very 

 slightly smaller size. 



The only successful method of hybridizing is 

 by confining a selected pair of geese together in 

 a paddock. In the majority of cases the birds 

 refuse to mate. 



Black Ducks are kept in a paddock of about 

 four acres containing a fresh water pond well 

 supplied with lettuce and eel grass of which the 

 birds are very fond. Tall grass, weeds and 

 bushes are thick, and the birds breed usually 

 among this low vegetation. During the present 

 year seventy-five young Black Ducks were 

 hatched, but every one was killed by a murder- 

 our Egyptian gander. Black Ducks are wild in 

 disposition, and will mate only in large pad- 

 docks. 



The Snow Goose lays its eggs on the ground 

 near the water, in an enclosed paddock, the eggs 

 usually not being fertile. In 1900, however, 

 four young Snow Geese were half raised but 

 were killed by dogs. The Common Brant Geese 

 mate but never lav. 



THE PONIES OF CHINCOTEAGUE* 

 By Lee S. Crandall. 



CHINCOTEAGUE and Assateague Islands 

 in Virginia each support a drove of ponies, 

 numbering from fifty to one hundred indi- 

 viduals. They forage for themselves winter and 

 summer, receiving no more care than the wild 

 mustangs of the West. 



Tradition has it that these semi-wild ponies 

 are the descendents of Spanish horses, which 

 came ashore from a foundered galleon. This 

 seems a reasonable explanation, and is generally 

 accepted. 



In general appearance the ponies closely re- 

 semble mustangs, to which they are undoubtedly 

 related. Rarely exceeding fourteen hands in 

 height, they are thick and stocky, with the 

 smallest of ears and hooves. The manes and 

 tails are extremely long in typical specimens, 

 and man} - of the little animals are very hand- 

 some. In winter, of course, their coats are 



*Mr. Crandall recently made a trip to Chincoteague 

 Island, Virginia, in the interests of the Zoological 

 Society, and while there gathered the following in- 

 formation concerning the semi-wild horses found in 

 that region. The facts are of decided interest and 

 well warrant publication. 



rough and shaggy, but in summer the}' are as 

 smooth and sleek as satin. All of the self col- 

 ors known among the mustangs are found among 

 the eastern animals, buckskins and even creams 

 being common. Calicoes, pintos. and other pied 

 forms are, however, never found among them, 

 stockings and blazes being the extreme of white 

 markings. 



In temperament, on the other hand, they are 

 the perfect antitheses of their western cousins. 

 Gentle and kind, they make splendid saddle 

 ponies, and the savage bucking of the mustangs 

 is absolutely unknown among them. Many are 

 broken for driving, and are safe and reliable, 

 thus differing radically from the western ponies, 

 which are notoriously unruly in harness. 



They are prolific breeders (continued inbreed- 

 ing has apparently not decreased their vigor) . 

 and each mare has a colt at her side. Each fall 

 a roundup is held, when all of the colts are 

 caught and branded. 



When surrounded, and no avenue of escape 

 presents itself, the ponies at once commence to 

 "mill" after the fashion of mustangs and cattle, 

 working around the circumference of a circle, 

 with the colts inside. 



The herds are, in each case, led by a splendid 

 stallion, who has complete command. At vari- 

 ous times, as the young stallions increase in age 

 and weight, they challenge the leader to battle 

 for his position. Many vicious combats result, 

 which are often of long duration. Rearing on 

 their hind legs, wrestling for an opening like 

 skilful boxers, biting, striking and squealing, 

 they will at times whirl from the top of a ridge 

 into the surf, and out into the sea, often to the 

 level of their backs. The old leaders are rarely 

 overcome until weakened by age, because they 

 have gained strength and experience from years 

 of warfare, and the younger animals are usual- 

 ly no match for them. 



These little animals range free over the two 

 islands, feeding on the succulent young grass in 

 summer, and getting a scantier livelihood from 

 the dried blades through the winter months. 

 When the mosquitoes and horse flies become un- 

 bearable, the herds stand leg deep in the surf. 



The native owners guard their animals with 

 jealous pride, never introducing new blood for 

 fear of "spoiling the breed." The ponies are in 

 great demand both on the island and the main- 

 land, and a very profitable traffic has been built 

 up. 



