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J. Delacour—Notes on South American Geese,



Muscovy, White-winged, Hartlaub’s Ducks, Cotton Teal, Pigmy Geese,

Mandarins, and Carolinas on the other, form two quite homogenous

groups, very distinct from other waterfowl, while the Coscoroba Swan,

Freckled Duck and Pink-headed Duck each stands quite alone,

without any close relatives.


The Cereopsis, from Australia, is to my mind allied to the South

American Geese, but distantly, and represents a very old type of

Goose without much specialization. If we include it in the scope of

the present paper, there is little to say about it which is not already

known. I always keep a couple of pairs of these fine birds, which

require very little water but plenty of grass. They are extremely

pugnacious and, unless kept in a very large park, must be given a

separate enclosure. They would kill any Goose or any of the smaller

Cranes. They usually lay their eggs in the winter ; the goslings

much resemble the Magellan’s, but are larger. They are very easy

to rear, either with their parents or under hens.


The South American Geese ( Chloejphaga) all come from the colder

parts of South America and migrate more or less widely. They are

all rather terrestrial in their habits, and also very spiteful to one

another. Only in very large parks, like that of Woburn Abbey, can

many pairs be kept together, and under such conditions they may be

full-winged as they are generally good stayers. But even then there

may be murders in the breeding season. I keep them in separate

paddocks, or only one pair in a large garden or enclosure with other

Geese of different genera, which, as a rule, they do not molest too much.

They only need enough w^ater to be able to bathe. I find the best way

to breed them is to let the female sit on her eggs, then to remove them

to an incubator a day or two before they hatch and to rear the goslings

under hens. The parents will, however, rear them successfully them¬

selves if allowed to. They need a lot of green food from the

beginning and are not difficult, growing very rapidly.


Since last year I have had two pairs of the lovely Andean Geese

(■ C . melanoptera) from the high, cold plateaux of Peru, Bolivia, and

Chili. They are very amusing in their ways and quite tame, the

males inclined even to attack one. One pair are separated in a large

paddock, while the other one is free in the park, and so far they do'



