546 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



broad nail ; the nostrils oval, and placed near the middle and 

 culmen ; wings lengthened, with the second, third, and fourth 

 quills equal and longest, and the bend of the wing armed 

 with a strong spur ; tail short and rounded ; tarsi long, a 

 trifle shorter than the middle toe, strong, and covered with 

 small quadrate scales, those of the front the largest ; toes 

 long, the anterior ones united by an indented web ; the hind 

 toe elevated and simple ; the base of the culmen furnished 

 with a naked protubrance ; the cheeks and a portion of the 

 neck of the adult denuded of feathers. 



646. Plectropterus Gambensis. (Linnaeus) 



Steph., Lath., Syn. VI., PI. 102 ; Anas Gamhensis, 



Linn.; A7iser Spinosa, Bonn.; Anser Gamhensis, 



Bonn. ; Cygnus Gamhensis, Rlipp. 



Upper parts, black, shot with bronze and green ; wings 

 mottled with white ; lower parts white, with patches of 

 black behind the thighs; the front of the head is bare (more 

 so in the 6 than in the 9), granulated, and reddish ; this is 

 succeeded by a white patch, which does not extend to the top 

 of the head, but occupies chin and part of the front of 

 the throat ; wings arraed with a stronir powerful spur. 5 : 

 Length, 3' 6"; wing, 21"; tail, 7". Q : Length, 3"; wing, 

 19"; tail, 6". 



This is the largest of our Geese, and is easily distinguished by the 

 strong spur on the edge of its wing. Hartlaub (Orn. W. Af., p. 246,) 

 includes it among the birds of South Africa. My descriptions are 

 taken from a fine pair, male and female, brought by Mr. Chapman 

 from the Zambezi, I have also received it from Mr. Arnot, who 

 procured it in Mahura's country. 



Genus SAHKIDIORNIS, Eyton. 



Bill moderate, of equal length throughout, more elevated 

 at the base than broad, and the tip armed with a broad 

 strong nail ; the nostrils large, oval, placed near the middle 

 and culmen ; wings lengthened, with the iirst and second 

 quills nearly equal and longest, each shoulder armed with a 

 blunt tubercle ; tail moderate and rounded ; tarsi moderate, 

 as long as the middle toe without the claw, and covered with 

 subquadrate scales ; toes long ; the anterior ones united by a 

 full-web ; the hind toe moderate, much elevated and simple. 

 The male furnished with a large rounded compressed canmcle 

 on the top of the culmen. 



