''.ilk 











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'J HE NKW IIOI.T.AXT) CEREOTSTS.* 



This remarkable bird is a native of New lloUaiid, on several parts of wliieli it is ver_v 

 abundant ; it does not, however, visit the interior, but is confined to the borders of the 

 sea, and ejpeeially to the small islands adjacent to the mainland. 



The characters which distinguish this bird from the geese, though not very important, 

 are well marked, and embrace striking modihcatious of various organs. They consist 

 chiefly in the form of the bill, the naked part of which is extremely short, and forms a 

 kind of truncated hook ; in the large open nostrils placed near the middle of the cere, 

 which is very broad, and leaves but a small portion of the bill uncovered ; in the some- 

 what greater length of the legs, which are bare of feathers for some distance above the 

 knees ; in all the toes being more robust ; and in the number of tail-feathers, which are 

 sixteen in the cereopsis, while there are onl_y twelve in the goose. 



Labillardierc states, that many of these birds first seen by him suffered themselves to 

 be taken by the hand ; but the rest becoming ajiprised of their danger, speedily took 

 flight. Considerable numbers were taken by the crew of Captain Flinders' vessel, both 

 at Lucky Bay and Goose Island, by knocking them down with sticks, and some of them 

 were secured alive. 



According to ]M. Hailly, those seen by him at Preservation Island evinced so little 

 shyness, and suffered themselves to be approached so readily, that his boat's creW were 

 able, without any ti-ouble, to procure a sufficient quaritity to victual them during their 

 stay. The flesh of these geese is described by I3ass as being excellent ; D'Mntrecasteaux 

 considered it much more delicate than that of the European goose ; and Flanders states 

 that on Prescvation Island it formed the best repasts of his men. 



These birds are to be seen in the gardens of the Zoological Society. Some of them 

 formed a part of an extensive , royal collection kept, in the reign of the last king, at 

 AVindsor. They bred there as freely as the emeus wr any of the other animals of New 

 Ifnlland, and were all descended from one pair, oiiginally brouglit to tliis country. 

 These birds are perfectly tamo, and in their beha\iour resemble geese, but with more 

 disjjosition to become familinr. 



* Cwcopsib NoViC JIdlliilulKl'. 



