418 



HISTORY OF 



a day, and sometimes drives her oiF to take ber place, where he 

 oits with great state and composure. 



But beyond that of all animals is his pride when the young are 

 excluded : he seems then to consider himself as a champion, not 

 only obliged to defend his young, but also to keep off the suspi- 

 cion of danger; he pursues dogs and men that never attempt to 

 molest him : and, though the most harmless thing alive, is then 

 the most petulant and provoking. "When, in this manner, he 

 has pursued the calf or the mastiff, to whose contempt alone he 

 is indebted for safety, he returns to his female and her brood in 

 triumph, clapping his wings, screaming, and showing all the 

 marks of conscious superiority. It is probable, however, these 

 arts succeed in raising his importance among the tribe where 

 they are displayed ; and it is probable there is not a more re- 

 spectable animal on earth to a goose than a gander ! 



A young goose is generally reckoned very good eating ; yet 

 the feathers of this bird still farther increase its value. I feel 

 my obligations to this animal every word I write ; for, however 

 deficient a man's head may be, his pen is nimble enough upon 



but the whole uomber is generally hatched. Tliey are said usually to se. 

 lect an islaud in preference to the mainland, for the performance of the ma- 

 ternal office in greater safety. 



The Spur-rcinged Goose. — Another species of the same group, is the Gam. 

 bo or Spur-nanged Goose, a native of northern, and more paiticularly of 

 western, Africa. This bird agrees with the Canadian Goose in some of those 

 characters which connect the geese with the swans, but is much more ro- 

 bust in make and more anserine in general appearance. Its size and pro- 

 portions are nearly those of the common goose ; its legs long .and placed 

 beneath the middle of the body ; and its neck of moderate length and pro- 

 portionate thickness. At the base of the bill, which is broad and flat, it has 

 a tubercle like tliat of the tame swan, increasing in size with the age of the 

 individual ; and the bend of its wings is furnished with a large blunt spur, 

 which appears to be occasionally doubled. 



The spur- winged goose was confounded by Willoughby, and afterwards by 

 Biiffon, with a variety of the Egyptian goose, equally distinguished by the 

 presence of a spur upon the wing, but difl'eriug considerably in the form of 

 its bill, and in its colours. In tlie former the entire bill and the tubercle at 

 its base are of a dull red ; the sides of the head are white ; the upper parts 

 of the body black, with a metallic brilliancy ; a patch of white, mottled with 

 black spots, occupies the base of each of the ^vings ; and the under parts are 

 white, sometimes marked with indistinct zigzag lines of gray. The legs 

 have an obscure tinge of red ; and the spurs of the wings are horn-coloured ; 

 but the latter are visible only when the wings are expanded, being concealed 

 at all other times b«ucath the plumage. 



