Ill 



SPUR-WINGED GOOSE ' 



OAMBO GOOSE. 



Anser Gambensis, Fleming. 



Anas Gambensis, Bewick. 



Anser— A Goose. Gambensis — From Gambia (?) 



This is another African species. 



One of these birds was killed in Cornwall, near St. Germains, 

 the 20th. of June, 1821. 



About the middle of February, 1855, another was shot 

 near Banff, JST.B. — an appropriate 'Nota Bene' of the occur- 

 rence of the second English or European specimen of this 

 rare bird — as recorded in 'The Naturalist,' for August, 1855, 

 by Mr. Thomas Edward, of that place. 



The Spur-winged Goose has been kept in the garden of 

 the Zoological Society. It appears to be of a morose and 

 domineering disposition. The spur on the wing, whence the 

 name of the bird, seems to be used as a weapon of attack. 

 Th& one mentioned in the beginning of this article, was 

 observed, when first seen, to associate with some Geese of 

 the common kind at a farm. 



Male; bill, dull reddish orange yellow; iris, amber colour. 

 Head on the crown, dull brown; neck on the back, also the 

 same colour; on the sides of the upper part, white spotted 

 with brown; on the lower, black. Chin and throat, white; 

 breast on the sides, black; in front and all down, white; 

 back, deep metallic brown, showing purple and copper-colour 

 in different lights, beautifully burnished w r ith dark -.green. 



The wings are armed at the bend with a strong spur 

 about five eighths of an inch in length. It is of a white 

 colour, and turns upwards, and rather inwards. The whole 



