THE POULTRY BOOK. 
313 
domestic poultry and water-fowl lield in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, 
Eegent’s Park, at the end of May, 1845, there was a fine specimen of Grey-lag 
goose sent from India by Mr. Blyth to Mr. Bartlett, who exhibited the bird. In 
the next coop was a fine pair of domestic geese : it was most obvious that these 
domestic geese were derived from the Grey-lag goose. The pinky flesh colour of 
the beak and the white nail ; the distribution of the markings of the plumage 
generally ; the large blue grey space on the anterior portion of the wing ; the 
flesh colour of both the legs and feet, and the voice, were alike in both. The 
half-bred geese, previously referred to as bred by the Society, w’^ere also exactly 
similar. 
“The Cancliclus Anser of Lucretius, which, by its cackling, excited the attention 
of the guard and saved the Roman Capitol, was perhaps of the same race as those 
we possess at the present time, as it is very likely that after the Romans had 
established themselves in this country, they would introduce many of their own 
domesticated animals.” 
Mr. Yarrell goes on to say that he is unable to answer the question as to the 
origin of a white goose from a grey species ; but this is really no argument against 
the theory which regards the Grey-lag as the origin of our tame birds, inasmuch 
as all animals vary in colour by domestication, and there is no difficulty in 
perpetuating any colour that may have been thus produced by careful and 
discriminating selection of breeding stock. 
As those naturalists who have paid the greatest amount of attention to this 
group of animals regard the Grey-lag as the origin of our domestic breeds, it 
is desirable that we should enter into a consideration of the habits of the wild 
original. Writing of the Grey-lag {Anser ferns), Macgillivray states : — 
“Whatever may have been the case formerly, when it was said to be very 
abundant, and permanently resident in England, this species is not now of 
common occurrence in any part of Britain, and does not remain to breed with us. 
In Ireland it is of occasional but rare occurrence in winter. Not being able 
to distinguish it, at a distance, from the Bean, and Short-billed or Pink-footed 
geese, I can say nothing respecting its peculiar habits, and, for the same 
reason, even those which are common to it and them, cannot be spoken of 
with certainty. However, this much may be said : — It makes its appearance in 
various parts of the country towards the beginning of winter, and departs in the 
end of April. It resorts, not to marshy places only, but to open pastures and 
cultivated fields ; its food consisting of the root-stems of aquatic grasses, young 
corn, clover, and other green herbage. Being very shy and vigilant, it is not easily 
shot ; and when feeding in the fields, on the alarm being given by one individual, 
they all erect their necks, run forward, and, uttering their loud grating cries, spring 
into the air. Their flight is rather heavy and sedate ; when they are proceeding to 
a distance, performed at a great height, the birds on such occasions advancing in a 
line, or in two lines forming an acute angle. The flesh of this species is savoury, 
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