142 EGYPTIAN GOOSE. 



be detected by its appearance, in consequence of its very long 

 pinions, but it has great trouble apparently in rising from the 

 ground: during its migrations it flies high; and when in a 

 flock, they form double lines, after the manner of other Geese.' 



They Swallow some gravel to help the digestion of their 

 food, which they seek at times in stubble fields, as well as 

 by the sides of streams and other waters. Barley and oats, as 

 also green herbage, the roots of water-plants, worms, snails, 

 and insects generally, are all suitable to their wants. 



The note is a 'quack' sharply repeated. 



These birds are believed to pair for life, and are much 

 attached to each other. They make their nest, it is said, of 

 reeds, leaves, and the stems of water-plants, and give it a 

 lining of cotton and feathers. It is always placed near the 

 water, and has been known on the surface, supported by the 

 surrounding floating vegetation. 



The eggs are of a dull white colour, with a tinge of buff, 

 and six or eight in number. 



Male; weight, five pounds; length, two feet two to two 

 feet four inches; bill, pale brown, except the tooth, which is 

 dark brownish black, as are also the edges and the base. 

 Iris, pale yellow, the eyelids red; around the eye is a patch 

 of chesnut brown. Forehead, rich reddish brown; head on 

 the sides, pale rufous or yellowish white; crown, rich reddish 

 or yellowish white; neck on the sides, pale rufous or yellowish 

 white; on the back, rich reddish brown, finely pencilled with 

 transverse waved lines; in front pale rufous brown or buff, 

 with a darker ring around its base. Chin and throat, pale 

 rufous or yellowish white; the breast has a patch of chesnut 

 brown on the centre; above it is pale rufous brown, below 

 pale brown — nearly white; the sides faintly pencilled with 

 minute waved transverse lines. Back, rich pale ferruginous 

 brown, finely pencilled with transverse waved lines; on the 

 lower part nearly black. 



The wings expand to the width of four feet three inches; 

 they have a short blunt spur at the bend; greater wing 

 coverts, white, with a deep black bar near the tip; lesser 

 wing coverts, white tipped with black, forming a narrow 

 black band; primaries, nearly black, with a tinge of green, 

 brightest on the edges; secondaries, blackish brown, tinged 

 with reddish and edged with chesnut, black at the tips, the 

 outer webs brilliant varying green; tertiaries, rich reddish 

 brown, greyish brown on the inner webs. Tail, nearly 



