SPUR-WINGED GOOSE. 89 



protuberance on tlie base of the upper mandible. The upper 

 part of the head and neck are dingy brown ; the auriculars 

 and sides of the throat are white, spotted with brown ; the 

 lower part of the neck, sides of the breast, and all the upper 

 plumage appear black, but this colour is lost, particularly 

 in the scapulars and tertials, which are most resplendently 

 bronzed and glossed with brilliant green, and most of the 

 outer webs of the other feathers partake of the same hue ; on 

 the bend of the wing or wrist, is placed a strong white horny 

 spur, about five-eighths of an inch in length, turning upwards, 

 and rather inwards ; the whole of the edges of the wing from 

 the alula spuria to the elbow and shoulder are white, all the 

 under parts the same. This beautiful bird is nearly of the 

 bulk of the Wild Goose, but its legs and toes are somewhat 

 longer, and of a red or orange yellow." 



To give the actual appearance of the British killed speci- 

 men our figure is taken from Mr. Bewick''s work. 



This species is a native of northern and western Africa, 

 but its habits are unknown. 



A male specimen died lately in the gardens of the Zoolo- 

 gical Society, after living there in confinement nearly twelve 

 years. Advantage was taken of this opportunity to examine 

 the organ of voice, generally found to possess some remarkable 

 variety in form and structure throughout most of the species 

 of this extensive family; and the expectation was fully realised. 

 By permission of the council of the Zoological Society, I am 

 enabled to publish the following description and figures. 



The windpipe of the Spur-winged Goose is about sixteen 

 inches long, the tube flattened throughout the greater part 

 of its length, but cylindrical at the bottom. The vignette 

 over leaf represents the lower portion of the windpipe in three 

 points of view. The figure on the right hand shows the 

 tube with its bony enlargement on the left side, being its 

 position in the body of the bird ; the other figures are added 



