Geese. 
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wings white, with a narrow black stripe, or bar, to each feather, of a beautiful metallic lustre ; the wing and 
tail quill feathers, glossy-black. The eye is orange-coloured, tfie bill purple or bluish-red, the feet and legs 
reddish-yellow. The wings of this Goose have on the bend of the wing a strong, white, horny spur, about 
five-eighths of an inch long, instead of the hard knot found on most varieties of the Goose tribe. The female 
closely resembles the male, but somewhat smaller. 
The Gambian Goose, also called the Spur-Winged Goose, has a spur, similar to the Egyptian Goose, 
on the joint of the wing; but this is much more developed. The beak has at the base a large excrescence, and 
the feet and toes are large, and long ; the body plumage is black and white ; the cheeks, throat, under-parts, 
and shoulders of wings being white ; the other parts of body being a bright green-black ; the eyes are 
reddish-brown ; the bill and legs, dull red ; the carriage is very tall, and upright. 
The Sebastopol Goose is a pure white, the feathers appearing to grow the wrong way from the tail and 
saddle. The feathers are beautifully curved, and so thin in the quill that the slightest breeze blows them 
about. 
The Cereopsis Goose is a very handsome variety. The Indian Bar-Headed Goose is chiefly 
distinguished by having three black bands across the back of the head, which is white. The Magellan 
Goose is marked with pretty stripes across the back and breast, and may be kept with safety in company with 
other water-fowl. 
To breed Geese for market or export the best cross is between an Embden Gander and a Toulouse 
Goose, but splendid results may be obtained by using a pure-bred Gander of either variety with the common 
grey-and-white Goose. This system of crossing improves the size and stamina to a marvellous extent, the 
goslings growing at a great rate, and as a natural result are ready for market much earlier than the progeny 
of common geese on both sides. 
The stock birds may be relied upon as productive up to a great age, instances having been known of 
their breeding well at twenty yeajs of age. 
In raising Geese for market, the Farmer must look after the minute details of the business equally as 
well as with ordinary Poultry, and it is compulsory to thoroughly understand the habits of Geese to succeed, 
which, however, are of a very contented and domestic disposition under favourable surroundings. They are 
very fond of sweet, tender, young grass, and in Spring will start in search of the tiny shoots growing in 
low-lying positions, and along the water-courses. The goslings are always on the watch for an opportunity 
for depredations, and will steal into a garden patch or any other enclosure where crops are growing, if they 
can discover an entrance. You cannot raise vegetables and goslings on the same plot of ground. They will 
do it for you. Being very shrewd and knowing, if they find an open gate, and are stealing into the garden, 
if shouted at, they will turn aside to some innocent attraction, watching closely till your back is turned, then 
start for the enclosure again. 
In America, the pure-bred African is considered to be the best. They will lay more eggs, mature earlier, 
make more flesh in a given time, and are very hardy. The Toulouse are also good layers, but, as a rule, are 
not so hardy, and will not take on flesh so rapidly as the pure African, though of larger size. The Embden 
are not as good layers as either ; but, being pure white in plumage and of immense size, look very handsome 
and attractive. The Brown and White China Geese run a little smaller, but compensate for this by being 
better layers than the Embden or Toulouse. Once the variety is selected, the best and strongest specimens 
should be chosen for breeding, making them up into breeding pens of three geese to each gander, allowing 
each lot sufficient room, so as not to appear as if they were kept in confinement, as much liberty as possible 
being given each pen, providing a nest box for each goose, and training each goose to lay in its own nest. Feed 
each family near its own home, sparingly, with grain at night. The morning food should be composed of 
vegetables, such as cooked cabbages, turnips, potatoes, etc., mixed with corn meal, and a little beef scraps 
while laying, turning them out on grass runs after they have done laying, or after they wean the goslings. 
