BRITISH BIRDS. 267 



or lillet is extended from the corners of the mouth 

 over the front of the brow: the base of the bill is 

 orange: irides reddish brown: a dark brown or 

 black stripe runs down the hinder part of the neck, 

 from the head to the back: the fore part of the 

 neck, and the breast, are yellowish brown: the 

 back, and all the upper parts, brownish grey, edged 

 with a lighter colour: the sides, and the feathers 

 which cover the thighs, are clouded nearly of the 

 same colours as the back, and edged with white: 

 belly white : legs orange. 



It is said that these birds originally were found 

 in Guinea only: now they are become pretty com- 

 mon, in a wild as well as a domesticated state, 

 both in warm and in cold climates. 



Tame Geese of this species, like other kinds, 

 vary much, both in the colour of the bill, legs, and 

 plumage, as well as in size; but they all retain the 

 knob on the base of the upper mandible, and rarely 

 want the pouch or wattle under the gullet. They 

 are kept by the curious in various parts of England, 

 and are more noisy than the Common Goose: 

 nothing can stir, in the night or day, without their 

 sounding the alarm, by their hoarse cacklings and 

 shrill cries. They breed with the Common Goose, 

 and their offspring are as prolific as those of any 

 other kind. The female is smaller than the male: 

 "the head, neck, and breast are fulvous; paler on 

 the upper part: the back, wings, and tail, dull 

 brown, with pale edges : belly white : in other 

 respects they are like the male, but the knob over 

 the bill is smaller." 



