[25] L. Lloyd, ‘Scandinavian Adventures,’ 1854, vol. ii. p. 413, says that the wild goose lays from five to eight eggs, which is a much fewer number than that laid by our domestic goose.
[26] The Rev. L. Jenyns (Blomefield) seems first to have made this observation in his ‘British Animals.’ See also Yarrell, and Dixon in his ‘Ornamental Poultry’ (p. 139), and ‘Gardener’s Chronicle,’ 1857, p. 45.
[27] Mr. Bartlet exhibited the head and neck of a bird thus characterised before the Zoological Soc., Feb. 1860.
[28] W. Thompson, ‘Natural Hist. of Ireland,’ 1851, vol. iii. p. 31. The Rev. E. S. Dixon gave me some information on the varying colour of the beak and legs.
[29] Mr. A. Strickland, in ‘Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,’ 3rd series, vol. iii., 1859, p. 122.
[30] ‘Poultry Chronicle,’ vol. i., 1854, p. 498; vol. iii. p. 210.
[31] ‘The Cottage Gardener.’ Sept. 4th, 1860, p. 348.
[32] ‘L’Hist. de la Nature des Oiseaux,’ par P. Belon, 1555, p. 156. With respect to the livers of white geese being preferred by the Romans see Isid. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire ‘Hist. Nat. Gén.,’ tom. iii. p. 58.
[33] Mr. Sclater on the black-shouldered peacock of Latham, ‘Proc. Zoolog. Soc.,’ April 24th, 1860. Mr. Swinhoe at one time believed, (‘Ibis,’ July, 1868) that this kind of peafowl was found wild in Cochin China, but he has since informed me that he feels very doubtful on this head.
[34] ‘Proc. Zoolog. Soc.,’ April 14th, 1835.