MANED GOOSE. Chenalopex jubata. 



PLATE XV. 



Anas juhata, Spix, N. S. Av. Braz. ii. t. 168. 



Anas polycomus. Lesson, Trait. d'Orn. 



Chenalopex jubata, Wagler. — Gray, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. 126. 



Inhabits Tropical America. 



These birds breed freely at Knowsley. On the approach of a stranger they have the habit of raising 

 their bodies nearly erect, swelling out their hreasts, and flapping their wings against the legs of the in- 

 truder. They sometimes bend themselves backwards to such an extent, that they appear as if they would 

 fall on their backs. 



The following observations on the breeding of Water-fowl at Knowsley are extracted from Lord Derby's 

 Notes : — 



" The Orenoco Goose has laid eight eggs, which are set." — May 24, 1844. 



" You will be glad to hear that my eight young Orenoco Goslings are all doing well. You will find it 

 figured in Lear's drawing, who was much amused by its manner of swelling out the breast like a Pouter 

 Pigeon, which he has represented. I have had them before, but these are the first pair that have ever 

 bred with us." — June 11, 1844. 



" The Maned, or as we call it the Orenoco Goose, has bred with us, and one year they hatched eight 

 eggs ; but before the next season the old gander killed his mate, and since then neither he nor any of his 

 progeny have bred or paired as far as I know. One pair of the young ones were sent last year to Her 

 Majesty, but as far as I hear they also have been unproductive." — July 21, 1846. 



" The Waterfowl are beginning to breed : one Sandneck has hatched four out of five eggs ; one Black 

 Swan two, all she had. My Thoulouse Geese are both sitting, one on twelve, another on ten eggs ; a 

 Canada hen, three eggs ; and a Chinese Goose, eight ; other things going on well." — May 1845. 



" My Carolina Ducks have laid well ; about thirty-five eggs. I trust they will hatch well." 



" We think the Eiders have paired, but as yet no egg." — May 16, 1845. 

 Our Eiders too are supposed to have paired, but no eggs are yet laid there. I fear our Java Teal 

 have been prevented by the outbreak of the pond, and the consequent bustle in that vicinity." — May 19, 

 1845. 



" We have hatched three or four Goslings from a hybrid male (between the White-fronted and Ber- 

 nicle) with the female of the first. John says it is a third cross, 1 call it a second ; but at all events, how 

 does this fact square with the principle, that mules are barren ; or if not, that the fact proves the parents 

 to be the same identical species ? Surely the Bernicle and White-fronted Geese cannot be said to be iden- 

 tical in species, any more than the Dshygetai and Zebra and Burchell's Zebra ; but the first has copu- 

 lated with his own daughter by the last: whether she will produce is yet to be seen." — May 24, 1844. 



" But they have been unlucky with the Thoulouse Geese, only hatching five out of twenty-two eggs." — 

 May 16, 1845. 



" Twelve young summer Ducks, and ten of Jnas obscura. The Javanese Teal has not bred." — May 31, 

 1845. 



" We have fifteen Penguin Ducks hatched, and one Canada Gosling out of five eggs ; nine young Silver 

 Pheasants earlier than usual, but no advantage, as the birds are earlier than the insects." 



" My Black Swans are proceeding famously : a pair I have on the Kennel Dam bred late in last year, and 

 out of six eggs hatched four cygnets, of which one died, and the remaining three are now about four months 

 old. They are of course still with the mother, who however has now six more eggs, and is beginning to 

 sit again. Pretty quick, laying twelve eggs in less than twelve months." — March 10, 1846. 



" I shall have a sight for you that you will think interesting : several of my West African birds, in the 

 place appropriated to the smaller Insessores, have taken to breeding in considerable numbers, and some 

 have actually young ones at this moment. They are chiefly, I am told (for I have not seen them, as I 

 cannot get there), of the Weaver kind, but I am not aware that such have ever bred in this country before. 

 You were much pleased with the drawing of the nest of the Ploceus, but 1 am sorry to tell you, the stock 

 raised has not been over-successful. Of the whole number of nests, near fifty I believe in all, not more 

 than six or seven young were hatched, and of these but one now survives, and that a very weakly thing. 

 The time of year is very much against them, and I fear there is not much likelihood of their altering their 

 natural habits, and accommodating their breeding-time to the new climate they are brought to." — Jan. 31, 

 1844. 



