GEESE. 



141 



rule they are gregarious, but are sometimes seen singly, and at others in pairs ; they 

 breed away from the water in thick, grassy, or rushy si)ots, and lay a number of white 

 eggs with thick, glossy shells." 



Another African form of the same family is tlie woU-known Egyptian or Nile goose 

 (Alopochen wgi/ptiaca). It is often found figured on the Egy])tian monuments, and 

 was known to the ancient Greeks, who called it 'cheiialopex,' or fox-^oose either 

 because it l)reeds in burrows, or on account of its color, which is more or less rusty 

 especially round the eyes, neck, tertials, and a spot on the breast. The smaller win"- 

 coverts are white ; a green speculum marks the large coverts ; bill and feet are brilliant 

 red ; a small frontal knob black. As the name intlicates, it is an inhabitant of eastern 

 Africa, but is often shot in England and other countries of temperate Europe, though 



Fia. 67. — Aiiser aitstr, gray-lug goose. 



probably many si)ecimens have been birds which have escaped confinement, for this 

 stately bird, in size equalling the common goose, is often kept for ornament in i>arks 

 and gardens, also in this country ; and the one which was shot on Long Island in 

 1872 evidently came from this source. The Egyptian goose has no close ally in the 

 Old World, and it is a somewhat extraordinary fact that the Orinoco goose {Alopochen 

 jtidata), brown, with green wings and white wing speculum, head, and neck, and with a 

 slight nuch.il crest or ' mane,' which inhabits northeastern South America, seems to be 

 congeneric with it. 



Having now disposed of the most outlying forms, there remains the great bulk of tlic 

 ducks, which we unite in the family Axatid.k, comjirising the geese, swans, tree-ducks, 

 ducks proper, and mergansers, groups which may be regarded as sub-families. The geese 

 proper form a well-circumscribed group, characterized by a bill rather high at base, com- 



