Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-09
puultrp.
THE GOOSE.

common Wild Goose; but all the species
seem very capable of domestication, and sew
era of them have been to some extent do
mesticated. The Gray Lag Goose is almost
three feet in length from the tip of the bill to
the extremity of the short tail Its extent of
wing is about five feet. The wings do not
reach to the extremity of the tail. The
weight of the largest bird is about ten pounds.
The color of the plumage is gray varying in |
some parts to glayish brown; the rump and
belly white; the bill is orange, the nail ut
the tip of the upper mandble white. The
younger are darker than the adults. The
Gray Lag Goose is common in some parts of
the centre and south of Europe, also in many
parts of Asia, and in the north of Africa, but
it is not known IN America. 1t is II bird of
temperate rather than of cold climates. In
some countries, it is found ut all seasons of
the year, but it deserts its most northern
haunts in severe weather, migrating south
ward: its hocks. like those of others of this
genus. flying ut great height beyond the
reach of shot, except of the rifle, one bird al-
ways leading the flock, the rest sometimes fol-
lowing in n single line; but more generally
in two lines converging to the leading bird.
The Gray Lag was formerly abundant in the
fenny parts of England, and resided there all
the year, hut the drainage of the fens has
made it now rare bird, and only known us
II winter visitant in the British Islands 1t
frequents bays of the sea and estuaries us
well rs inland waters, and often leaves the
waters to visit moors. meadows, and cult
waited fields, generally preferring an open
country, or taking Its place as remote us pos
sible from danger in the middle of field.
These excursions are often made by night
and no small mischief is often done by II
flock of hungry geese to II field of newly
sprung wheat OF other crop. At the breeding
season, the winter flocks of wild geese break
up into pairs; the nests are made in moors
or on tussocks in marshes; the eggs vary in
number from five to eight, or rarely twelve
OF fourteen; they are of II dull white color,
fully three inches long, and two inches in di-
, ameter
, Although the common goose has long been
domestcated, and it was probably among the
very first of the domesticated birds, the vari-
| cites do not differ widely from each other
I Emblem Geese are remarkable for their per-
: feet whiteness Toulouse Geese for theil
e large size. AS adomesticated bird, the goose
0 is of great value both for the table, and OF
, account of its quilts, and of the fine soft feath
n ers. The quilts supplied all Europe witt
! pens before steel pens were invented, ant
G have not ceased TO be in great demand
L Geese must have free access to water, anC
Il when this is the case. they are easily reared
it and rendered profitable. Two broods ar'
n sometimes produced in II season, ten or elev
en- in II brood, and the young geese are read.
for the table IN three months after they leav,
It the shell. They live, if permitted, to n grea
e age. Willoughby records an instance of on
X that reached the age of eighty years. and wa
II killed ut last for his mischevousness. Grea
ocks of geese are kept in some places il
o England, particularly IN Lincolnshire, ant
IF regularly pucked five times II year, for feath
# ers and quilts. Geese intended for the tabl
st are commonly shut up for few weeks an
N flttened before being killed. Great number
are yearly imported from Holland and Gel