The three portions were formerly considered as belong-
ing but to one genus, Anas; and hence the family name
Anatidae; but modern systematists have found it desirable
to divide them into smaller groups, which are known to be
distinct in their characters and habits, and these will be
hereafter referred to.
By fowlers Wild Geese are divided into ‘ Grey ’ and
* Geese, and under the former four species are
included. The Grey Lag Goose, the first on our list, has
not always been so well defined or represented as to exhibit
the true specific characters that distinguish it from the
Bean Goose and White-fronted Goose, with which the Grey
Lag^ Goose is the most frequently confounded. The present
species is considered to be the origin from which our valuable
domestic race is derived ; and to show the aptitude of the
wild bird to this purpose, the Author may mention that
the Zoological Society of London, possessing a pinioned
wild Grey Lag Gander, which had never associated with
either Bean Goose or White-fronted Goose, though both were
kept on the same water with him, paired with a domestic
Goose (selected in the London market from the circumstance
of her exhibiting in her plumage the marks which distinguish
the true Grey Lag species); a sitting of eight eggs was the
consequence, and the offspring were prolific.
At the first exhibition of domestic poultry and water-fowl
at the Gardens of the Zoological Society, in the Regent’s
Park, at the end of May, 1845, there was a fine specimen of
the wild Grey Lag Goose, sent from India by Mr. Blytli to
Mr. Bartlett, who exhibited the bird. The next coop contained
the finest and the heaviest pair of domestic Geese
sent by Mr. Nolan, from Dublin. It was obvious that these
domestic birds 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
) ue grey space on the anterior portion of the win«- the
flesh-colour of the legs and feet, and the voice, were alike
!“ k°th- The half-bred Geese, previously referred to as bred
by the Society, were also exactly similar. The Author has
resumed the old name of Grey Lag Goose, believing that the
term lag, as applied to this Goose, is either a modification of
the English word lake, the Latin lacus, or perhaps an abbreviation
of the Italian lago ; from which latter country it is even
probable that we might originally have obtained this our domesticated
race.* The candidus 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 must be admitted to
be very likely that after the Romans had established themselves
in this country, they would introduce many of their
own domesticated animals. Horace mentions as a dainty,
the liver of a white Goose fed on rich figs. Why the
domestic Goose derived from a wild grey species, should
become tvliite, the Author is unable to say ; but some of
those persons who keep Geese state, that all Ganders after a
certain age become white. This colour once obtained, there
is little or no difficulty in perpetuating it by restriction, and
there is a motive for perseverance, as white feathers produce
a better price than grey ones.t Domestic Geese are said to
be very long-lived; one is recorded to have lived sixty-four
years, and was then killed by mistake.
The Author, however, finds some reason to believe that
one other species, at least, has had a share in establishing
our present domestic race. Almost all the species of Geese,
Swans, Ducks, and Mergansers are remarkable for the
peculiar form of their organ of voice, or windpipe ; and so
peculiar as well as permanent is this anatomical character,
that in the males of the British species of this family (consisting
of about forty), almost all of them, but more particularly
the Swans, Ducks, and Mergansers, can be immediately
* Prof. Skeat considers that lag means late, last, or slow ; consequently the
Grey Lag Goose is the Grey Goose which in former days lagged behind to breed
in our fens, when its congeners had betaken themselves to their more northern
head-quarters. Cf. Ibis, 1870, p. 301.
t White feathers maybe partially induced by constant pluckiDg. There are
two white varieties of domestic Ducks derived from the Wild Duck, namely, the
English Aylesbury Duck and the Dutch Call Duck.