348 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



seasons of the year, in vast numbers on certain well-known vleys, such 

 as Yogel Vley (Bird Lake), Verloren Vley (Lonely Lake), Bot River 

 Mouth, &c., &c. In these places it sheds the wing-feathers and becomes 

 unable to fly. It is then much sought after, being very fat ; but it 

 dives with such rapidity that even in this condition it is very difficult 

 to kill. It breeds in the rushes in these vleys ; but in other places, 

 such as the iCeurhoom Iviver, in the Knysna division, it breeds in 

 holes of rocks or hollow trees near the water, and is said to bring 

 down its young on its back. The goslings dive as actively as their 

 parents, which show much solicitude about them, keeping with them 

 until they are fully grown ; in fact, the little flocks in which they are 

 generally found consist usually of an old pair and their brood, from 

 ten to fifteen in number. 



They are easily tamed, and a great ornament to a poultry-yard ; but 

 sad plagues to the rest of the inhabitants, over which they domineer. 

 They have a loud, harsh cry, which, however, sounds well amid the 

 wild rocky scenes where they love to dwell. They are strong on the 

 wing, and require a hard-hitting gun and a charge of buck-shot, well 

 aimed, to bring them down. Their eggs are white, and small for the 

 size of the bird, being: axis, 2" 2"'; diam., V T". 



The Sub-Family, ANSERINE, or Geese, 



have the bill as long as or shorter than the head, the culmen 

 much elevated at the base, and gradually sloping to the tip, 

 which is armed with a large broad nail ; the sides compress- 

 ed, and the marginal laminae more or less apparent ; the 

 wings lengthened ; the tarsi 'longer than the middle toe, and 

 the knee nuked ; the toes short, and strongly webbed, with 

 the hind toe short, elevated, and scarcely lobed. 



Genus NETTAPUS, Brandt. 



Bill small, more elevated at the base than broad, the cul- 

 mcn gradually sloping to the tip, which is armed with a large 

 nail ; the lamellae not exposed, but short and widely set ; the 

 nostrils somewhat basal, placed near the culmen, with the 

 opening rounded ; wings moderate, pointed, and the first two 

 quills the longest; tail short and rounded ; tarsi shorter than 

 the middle toe ; toes long, and united by a full web, the 

 lateral one unequal, and the hind toe very short, and more or 

 less lobed ; the claws short and curved. 



649. Nettapus Madagascariensis. (Gmei.) 



Anas Madagascariensis, Gmel. ; A. Aurita, Bodd., PL 



Enl. 770. 



UPPER parts, shining black-green, with a longitudinal white 

 stripe along the wing ; under parts white ; chest, flanks, and 

 sides rufous, the first transversely marked with narrow black 

 bars ; front of head, cheeks, and throat, white ; top of head 



