158 On the Ornithology of Wilts \_Anatid(i\. 



the well contrasted and brilliant colours of their plumage, before 

 they took alarm, and decamped at their best speed. 



"Spur-winged Goose." {Anser gambensis.) Just as this paper 

 is going to press, I have an account of the capture near Netheravon, 

 on the edge of Salisbury Plain, of this very rare African goose, of 

 which but two other specimens are known to have occurred in the 

 British isles. It had been seen for some days previously associ- 

 ating with some tame geese in the fields. This species is not only 

 extremely handsome, with well marked glossy and bronzed plum- 

 age, but it is remarkable for the strong white horny spur, above half 

 an inch in length, and turning upwards, situated on the carpel 

 joint .of each wing, as in the Spur-winged Plover {Charadrius 

 spinosus), at whose formidable weapons in every variety of bluntness, 

 I had often marvelled in the many specimens which I shot on the 

 Nile. 



"Canada Goose." (Anser Canadensis.) The last-mentioned 

 species was a straggler from Africa. This is no less rare as an 

 occasional and very unfrequent visitor to the British Isles from 

 America ; in the north of which continent, and in Hudson's Bay, 

 Greenland, and the regions still farther north it is found in very 

 great numbers, where it has proved a welcome source of provision 

 to our Arctic voyagers. For its occurrence in Wiltshire I am 

 indebted to the pen of Mr. Henry Blackmore of Salisbury, who 

 thus records its appearance, in that very useful periodical the 

 Zoologist. "On Monday the 21st of January, 1867, a fine speci- 

 men of the Canada or Cravat Goose {Anser Canadensis), was shot 

 in a meadow at Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire, by Mr. Crosse, of the 

 same place. It came into my possession the following day, and on 

 dissection proved to be a male bird, weight twelve pounds. Another 

 was shot in the same locality on Saturday the 26th of January, 

 and was purchased by Mr. Marsh, of Ramridge House, for his 

 collection : this specimen appeared to me to be the same in every 

 respect as the one I have, (a male bird in equally good plumage 

 and condition). Mr. Whatman, of this city told me that he had 

 seen a flock of these birds on the 19th instant, in a meadow at 

 Homington, which is the adjoining village to Coombe Bissett, 



