GEESE. 



189 



but, becoming attached to this projection of the clavicle, receives from the point 

 described its centrical direction into the body. The wliole length of the windpipe is 

 four feet eight inches." 



The serai-p;ilninti'd goose (Anscranaft semipahnitta) is a large, Ktriking-l()okinf» 

 bird, glossy, greenish black, with the shoulders, runiji, breast, and abdomen pure 

 white. Its voice is said to be a loud whistling. 



Dr. G. Beniu'tt, in a letter to Mr. Gould, sjieaks of it in the following manner: 

 "The senii-palmated goose I have seen domesticated in Sydney in a poultrv-yanl, 





Fio. C5. — rUctropterus rUppelii, spur-wiiigcU gooso. 



having been hatched by a common hen. This bird in its anatomy evidently ap- 

 proaches the cranes, and in h.ibits also. Especially when you see it running about the 

 poultry-yard, it resembles one of the Gruidie more tlian a goose." And .again he 

 says: "The black and white ])luni.nge imparts to tlif bird a very handsome ap|icarance 

 as it walks with a stately tread (not witli the waddling gait of the goose) about tlic 

 yard of my house, like one of the waders." lie further states that they are easily 

 tamed, are very amicable to the other jmullry, but reijuiro company in order to thrive. 

 The flesh, however, is said to be coarse am) not well-tlavored. This spciies iidiabited 

 southern, southeastern, and northern Australia, but seems to have beon driven aw.ay 

 from the southern parts by the progress of cultivation. At Dr. Leichardt's time they 



