1880.] Domestication of certain Ruminants and Aquatic Birds. 397 
easily domesticated. When taken adult, a month or two is suffi- 
cient to make them as tame as those that have been in the grounds 
for years. They are healthy and prolific. 
The white fronted geese (Anser cwrulescens) do not domesticate 
so readily, and have not reproduced, though they were observed to 
couple last spring. 
The Hawaiian geese (Bernicla sandvicensis), which I brought 
over in the spring of 1878, have proved hardy and I trust will 
prove reproductive. They were well sheltered and cared for last 
winter, and came through in good order. Both geese commenced 
laying in April, one laid three and the other four eggs, but only 
one showed a disposition to set upon the eggs, and she, after at- 
tending to her business faithfully for ten days, tired of it and quit 
the nest, so they produced no goslings. 
In the wild state they lay but two or three eggs, while in 
domestication they sometimes lay eight or ten. 
Mr. Brickwood, Post Master General of the kingdom, who had 
them in domestication for many years, sometimes raised as many 
as ten in a brood. 
In domestication they seem to have strong attachments and are 
fond of human society, one gander in particular has become very 
fond of me, and always greets me cordially, and will ¢a/é with me 
in a low, soft plaintive tone so long as I will indulge the humor. 
They are less aquatic than the other geese. The foot is not 
more than half webbed. They take a bath scarcely once a day, 
and rarely remain in the water long. I once saw one with the 
tail under water as we see a hen when forced to swim. Their 
native habitat is the high volcanic mountains in the Island of 
Hawaii, where they breed among the lava beds, depending upon 
the pools which they find among the rocks for water, never going 
down to the sea. They are of strong flight in the wild state, 
though in domestication they show little disposition to fly. Alto- 
gether they are the most interesting water-fowl which I possess, 
and I hope another year to raise some of them from the only pair 
l have left. A few weeks ago I lost the other pair by a mink, — 
I can add little to your observations on Japanese and Chinese 
geese. The former is twice as large as the latter. These have 
black legs, while those have yellow. They are very noisy, fairly 
discounting the Guinea fowls. ; 
I Supposed I had a pair of sand-hill cranes (Grus canadensis), 
