40 
GRAY AFRICAN GEESE. 
History.—Gray African geese (fig. 31) are by many raisers consid¬ 
ered the most profitable of all geese to keep. They grow the heaviest 
in the shortest space of time, and are ready for market in ten weeks, 
weighing at that age between 8 and 10 pounds. They are very much 
like the Pekin duck in this respect, and as compared with other geese 
give the most satisfactory returns for the least labor and time spent in 
growing them. They are, according to standard weights, as heavy as 
the Toulouse and Embden, but specimens are not uncommon that exceed 
Fig. 30.— Pair of White Embden geese. 
these weights by several pounds. They are first-class layers and aver¬ 
age about 40 eggs in a season. This is considered as a low estimate for 
their egg production. For table purposes they are esteemed very 
highly, their flesh being fine and nicely flavored. 
Description.—These geese have a large head, with a large knob, and 
a heavy dewlap under the throat. These and the Chinese geese are 
different from the others in the head, and are the only two breeds 
that have the knob on the head. The bill of the African is rather large 
and stout at the base, and their necks are long. Their backs are long 
