246 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLET 



white; the wing armed with a sharp spur ; bare skin on the top 

 of the head, with the knob and bill red. Length, about 3 feet. 



This species has been but seldom recorded from the 

 Cape, but is quite common on the vleis of the Orange 

 Free State, often consorting in flocks with ducks and other 

 waterfowl, the vleis being literally covered with aquatic birds 

 at certain seasons. 



It may be seen in captivity on some farms, in a semi- 

 domesticated condition, having been reared from the egg. 

 It takes a lot of shot, being exceedingly tough in the adult 

 stage. The eggs are shiny white and nearly 3 inches in 

 length. The Southern bird has been separated by Sclater 

 under the name of P. niger, and is darker in coloration and 

 smaller in size : it has much less white on the face and wings. 



The Dwarf Goose (Nettapus auritus) is, as its trivial name 

 indicates, a very diminutive member of the goose tribe. 

 It is dark metallic-green, brown, black and white in coloration 

 and is quite a neat, handsome little bird. Length, only 1 foot. 



It is met with along the coast and on some of the larger 

 rivers, and we procured it at Port Elizabeth. 



The Egyptian Goose (Chenalopex cegyptiacus), better known 



■** 



W 



Fig. 136. — Egyptian Geefie (enlarged to show detail), 

 in South Africa as the Berg Gans (Mountain Goose), is a 

 pretty graceful bird; it is black above, except the crown, 



