18 
FANCY WATERFOWL 
this double marking producing a very elegant appear- 
ance. The bill and feet are black. The young show 
some black on tbe white face. 
The Bernacle visits England and other European coun- 
tries in winter, but its breeding haunts have not yet been 
made out. In captivity it breeds well, and the young 
may be allowed their liberty unpinioned. It has bred 
with the Canada Goose in a fiee state, and with the 
White-fronted Goose in captivity. 
THE BRENT GOOSE. 
(Brantn bcrniclci.) 
This pretty little bird is much smaller than the other 
geese I have mentioned, being no bigger than a common 
duck. It is dark grey in colour, with a black head and 
neck, the latter being set oil’ by a patch of white 
mingled with black, on each side near the head ; the 
breast is black, and the stern white, as is usual in 
geese. Young birds are paler, and have no white on the 
neck. 
This bird breeds in the Arctic regions all round the 
world, migrating south in winter, at which season it is 
the commonest British Wild Goose ; it is almost entirely 
a sea-coast bird, feeding on sea-grass and other marine 
vegetation. It is possible, for this reason, that it has 
not been bred in confinement, for it is frequently kept 
and lives very well. It is recommended by its neat 
though sombre appearance, and conveniently small size, 
to those who have not room for the bigger geese. 
It will be obvious from what has been said above 
that there is a wide field open for the goose fancier. 
Geese need little water, breed well as a rule, have con- 
stantly pleasing if quiet plumage, and, from their 
greater steadiness, are more suitable for exhibition than 
docks. Given a good grass run, no birds will give less 
trouble or repay it better. 
CHAPTER IV. 
CEREOPSIS, MAGELLAN, AND EGYPTIAN GEESE. 
The three birds to be dealt within the. present chapter 
are very different from the true geese, although they go 
popularly under the same name ; indeed, the last two are, 
strictly speaking, not geese at all, but simply overgrown 
ducks, agreeing with these birds in their brilliant 
colours and in the difference of voice in the sexes ; in 
connection with which it is to be noted that the males 
of these species, like drakes, have a bony bulb attached 
to the base of tbe windpipe, the result of this arrange- 
ment being to considerably modify the voice. All require 
the same general treatment as geese, but unless they can 
be given an absolutely free range had better be kept apart, 
owing to infirmities of temper, for which they are 
notorious. 
THE CEREOPSIS GOOSE. 
(Cereopsis novas hollandice.) 
If this remarkable bird really is a goose, it certainly 
does not very closely resemble its relatives. Tn form it 
is short-necked, stout-billed, and high on the legs, these 
members being strong, with the feet only partially 
webbed, and furnished with large strong claws. The 
wings are comparatively short, not long as in the true 
geese. In fact, among geese this bird recalls the Indian 
Game and Aseel amongst fowls by its light yet power- 
ful build. The bill is short and thick, the end being 
horny and black, and the rest covered with a waxy skin 
or “cere” as in birds of prey, these being of a greenish- 
yellow colour. The plumage is grey, with black tips to 
the flights and black tail, and a creamy patch on the top 
of the head. The eyes are bright red and the legs brick 
red, the feet and claws being black. Both sexes are 
similar, the female, as in the true geese, being smaller, 
and the young exhibiting the characteristic cere at birth, 
and closely resembling old birds w hen feathered. 
The Cereopsis is a native of Australia, but has long 
been introduced into Europe, and is not unfrequently 
shown. They are said to have a vile temper, and to 
attack not only other waterfowl, but domestic animals 
of small size, and even human beings, so that they should 
be lodged away, from other pets and out of the way cf 
children. Were it not for this unfortunate failing, 
Cereopses w ould suit very many people, needing less water 
than any others of their kind, for tliey are very much 
more land birds than waterfowl, running well and 
swimming awkwardly ; in fact, judging from what I saw 
of them for some time at the London Zoo, I should 
say that practically they only take to water to wash, and 
that therefore a large tub would be all the accommoda- 
tion they require. They breed from March to May, lay 
about live eggs, and sit thirty-five days. 
THE MAGELLAN OR UPLAND GOOSE. 
( C Viloeph aga magellan tea. ) 
This beautiful bird is as distinct from the true geese in 
form as it is in the marked difference between the sexes. 
H stands very high on the leg, the thighs, which are well 
feathered, being prominent ; the shanks are also unusually 
long, and the feet small and not quite fully webbed ; the 
bill is very small but goose-like in form, with central 
nostrils. The gander is mostly white with a grey back, 
black and white tail, and black barring on the flanks. 
The goose, which is smaller and not so reacliy in build, is 
brown where the gander is white, and barred all over 
brlow. She also iias bright yellow legs, while the 
gander's are black, as is the bill in both sexes. Both 
birds also agree in the wings, which have white 
“shoulders,” black flights, and metallic green secondary 
quills, forming a bright bar when the wing is closed. In 
lirst feather the young more resemble the goose, but the 
yellow legs of the females show early. This very showy 
bird inhabits the southern part of South America, but 
was introduced into Europe more than fifty years ago, 
and breeds well, nesting in the spring on the ground 
under a low bush, and laying four to eight eggs, which 
are incubated for about a month. It is said to be a 
great coward in the company of other geese, and is 
certainly a bully with smaller water fowl, so should be 
well looked after if placed in a mixed collection. 
Although not positively awkward in the water, it does 
not look its best there, and is far more attractive on land, 
where its motions are easy and graceful. A small pond 
for washing purposes is all it really needs, and, given this, 
it would be difficult to find handsomer ornaments for a 
paddock than a pair of these fine birds, both sexes of 
which arc equally beautiful in their own way. The 
goose has a much stronger voice than the gander, but 
they are not unpleasantly noisy like many of the true 
geese. 
A verv similar but rarer species is the Chilian Upland 
Goose ( Chloephaaa inornata), in which the male is much 
more barred below than the common kinds, while the 
female has a dull grey instead of brown head. The 
similarity of the amount of pencilling in the two sexes 
naturally renders this species more pleasing to the eye 
of a fancier who likes uniformity. 
THE EGYPTIAN GOOSE. 
(Chenalopcx cegyptiacns. ) 
This well-known species is simply an overgrown mem- 
ber of the group of species of Sheldrakes, next to be 
mentioned ; it is slighter in build than the true geese, and 
more leggy, while the bill is somewhat intermediate in 
