144 



AQUATIC FOWL. 



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THE EGYPTIAN OB CAPS GOOSE. 



escaped from captivity; but when we consider that flocks of 

 eighty have been seen in Hampshire, that they are frequently 

 met with in both England, Ireland, and Scotland, we must con- 

 clude them to be African visitors. Northern Africa is their 

 natural station. They spread over the northern half of that 

 continent, and are abundant along the banks of the Nile ; visits 

 the southern shores of Europe, and are frequently found in Sicily. 

 They were a part of the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, and a 

 favourite article of food, for the priests, and their eggs considered 

 of delicious flavour. Their beautiful appearance adds considerably 

 to ornamental sheets of water, where they breed readily, and the 

 young when fledged, often take wing, and are frequently shot. 

 The habits of this goose closely resemble the rest of the tribe. The 

 bill is long, slender, and nearly straight, rounded at the top ; the 

 upper mandible is slightly curved, and the nail hooked ; the base 

 of the bill, and a space surrounding the eyes is chesnut brown. 

 The cheeks, crown, chin, and throat, yellowish white ; the neck 



