CANADA GOOSE. EGYPTIAN GOOSE. 193 



was obtained on the Bandon river near Kinsale, which was 

 accompanied by five others, all of which appeared during a 

 severe snow-storm. The specimen was since presented to the 

 Museum of the Dublin Natural History Society, by R. P. 

 Williams, Esq., of Drumcondra Castle. 



In confinement this species looks to the best advantage, 

 and thrives well, breeding familiarly with the tame goose ; it is 

 also a species frequently observed on ornamental waters, and 

 nowhere more so than with the other aquatic water-fowl 

 at St. James's and Regent's Park. There is also a conside- 

 rable number on the grand canal before the Palace of Ver- 

 sailles, where we have been amused by their following the 

 pleasure boats with the greatest familiarity, to partake of a 

 hard bread which is made purposely, and disposed of in the 

 ^fark, both for their and the fishes' benefit. 



Habitat North America. 



SPECIES 185 THE EGYPTIAN GOOSE. 



Anser JEgyptiacus. Linn. 

 Oie Egyptienne. Temm. 



THE EGYPTIAN GOOSE is, in like manner, of doubtful occur- 

 rence, as to whether the few birds which have been obtained 

 were wild visitants from Africa, or birds escaped from con- 

 finement. 



The most elegantly plumaged of all the Anserinse when 

 appearing with them on ornamental waters, none of the spe- 

 cies we have already described can equal the present in the 

 varying and resplendent hues of the richly bronzed plumage. 

 Occurring in two or three instances, in one of which as 

 many as eighteen birds were observed on the wing, we can 

 scarcely believe them to have escaped from confinement, es- 

 pecially when we recollect the similar appearance of a flock 

 of eighty of these birds observed at Hampshire in England. 



Domesticated at an early period in considerable numbers 

 by the Egyptian priests, with the exception of the sacred ibis, 

 it is one of the birds most frequently observed amidst the 

 effigies and hieroglyphics of the monumental remains of that 

 countrv. 



Habitat Northern Africa. 



