DOMESTIC GEESE. The domestication of the goose was very easy, and doubtless began as soon as men began to remain in fixed settlements. They are among the animals figured on the oldest Ertyptian and Asiatic monuments, and the Orien tal breeds were no doubt derived from local wild species, especially the great Chinese swan or 'guinea' goose (Cyanopsis cygnoides), whose true home is in the valley of the Amur River. This is the largest of living geese, and wild and do mesticated specimens are freely crossed to this day with other breeds. The basis of the domestic geese of Europe, however, is the graying above described; and this kind was imported by the early colonists to America, where some admix ture has taken place with local wild geese. For merly 'the cultivation of geese was more exten sive and important than at present. Great herds of geese were annually driven slowly from West ern Europe to Rome. where both flesh and feath ers (down) were in great demand. Previous to the invention of metallic pens goose-quills sup plied all the pens used, and formed a large article of trade now almost obsolete. In South ern England goose culture was formerly far more extensive than at present, many thousands being driven to market every fall; and goose-fattening in Holland and Germany is still a great industry, especially in the neighborhood of Strassburg. The long domestication of geese, however, has brought about remarkably little variation. As is pointed out by Darwin in his Animals and Plants Under Domestication, the change has been little more than a considerable increase in size and fecun dity, and a tendency to lose the brownish tints of the wild stock and become spotted with white or altogether white. The last feature has resulted not only from a preference for pure white which has prevailed ever since the time of the Romans, but from the former cruel practice of plucking geese alive, the new feather produced by the injured skin being usually white.
The standard breeds commonly raised in the United States are Gray Toulouse, White Embden, Gray African, Brown Chinese, White Chinese, Gray Wild, and Colored Egyptian. A number of cross-bred geese have also given good results. In general Toulouse geese are more compact in form than are other breeds, and for this reason are pre ferred by many. The head is rather large and
short and the bill comparatively short. The neck is carried well up and is of medium length. The breast is broad and deep. The body of the Tou louse goose is moderate in length, broad, deep, and compact. In birds of good condition the belly almost touches the ground. The wings are large and strong; the tail comparatively short; the thighs and shanks stout. In color the plumage is gray. The standard weight of the adult gander is 20 pounds; adult goose, 20; young gander, 18; and young goose, 15 pounds. They are termed Christmas geese, since they mature later than others and are in season at the holiday time. They are fairly good layers, averaging 40 eggs in a season. See Colored Plate of DUCKS.
White Embden geese are beautiful birds of large size, tall and erect carriage, snow-white plumage, and are about as heavy as the gray Toulouse goose. They originally came from Emb den, in Westphalia, and have been bred in the United States for many years. They are con sidered a very satisfactory breed to raise. Gray African geese are by many considered the most profitable of all. They grow very rapidly, and are ready for market in ten weeks, weighing at that age between eight and ten pounds. Accord ing to standard weights they are as heavy as Toulouse and Embden, but heavier specimens are not uncommon.
The brown and white Chinese geese are smaller than those previously mentioned, and probably for this reason less popular. The domesticated gray wild geese are satisfactory. and are gen erally bred throughout the United States. They are very highly prized for table purposes, are good layers, hardy. and easy to raise. The stand ard weight of the adult gander is 16 pounds; adult goose. 14 pounds; young gander, 12 pounds; and young 10 pounds.
The colored Egyptian geese are purely orna mental, being seldom bred for other purposes than the show-room. They are sometimes called Nile geese. They are tall and slender. The color of the head is black and gray: the bill is purple or bluish-red and the eyes orange. The neck and back are gray and black: the centre of the bicast is chestnut, with the other part gray. The upper parts of the plumage of the body are gray and black, and the under parts are a pale yellow, penciled with black.