Zoo Notes 
A very singular peculiarity of the species 
consists in the fact that its plumage does not 
show that complete regularity of marking 
usually seen in wild birds, but rather recalls 
that or a pred domestic variety in the disposi- 
tion of the white areas and their lack of 
exact definition. In this the spur-winged 
goose is almost unique among birds, and 
recalls a compatriot, the African Hunting- 
Dog (Lycaon 
pictus) among 
mamunals. 
~The only 
other birds of 
the duck family 
which bear 
spurs on their 
wings are the 
little Torrent- 
Ducks (Mergan- 
etta) of the 
Andes, which 
are totally dif- 
ferent in appear- 
ance and habits. 
7 
Tuts bird (An- 
Pink=Footed 
Goose. 
ser brachyrhyn- 
chus) 1s a good 
example of the 
true or typical 
geese, and even 
in the photo- 
graph a great 
contrast to the 
stilty and glossy 
spur-wing. It 
has also the . 
respectable demeanour on which all genuine 
geese pride themselves. It shows, however, 
a remarkable imconstancy im the colora- 
tion of the feet and the tip of the bill. 
These parts should be pink, as the bird's 
name implies, but both in captivity and 
in a wild state specimens may occur with 
them bright orange, as in the Bean 
Goose (Anser fabalis). This species, how- 
ever, may be distinguished by its darker 
Photograph by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S. 
“ SUSAN. ’” 
249 
plumage and larger bill, this organ being 
noticeably small in the pink-footed species. 
we 
AUSTRALIA is the home of a curious group 
of partridge-like pigeons which 
live entirely on the ground, 
and of these the species figured 
(Lophophaps plumifera) is the prettiest ex- 
ample, its long 
lapwing-like 
crest giving it a 
very striking 
appearance. Its 
plumage is very 
elegant, being a 
fine blending of 
cinnamon with 
black and 
French-grey, 
and set off by 
scarlet patches 
round the eyes. 
These birds 
seem to do well 
at the Zoo, 
where they keep 
entirely to the 
floor of the 
Western Aviary, 
and when run- 
ning show much 
the same action 
as partridges. In 
fact, this dove 
seems to con- 
sider itself a 
partridge, since 
the present 
writer has seen 
an odd speci- 
men, confined in a compartment with par- 
tridges, cuddling up to those birds as they sat 
in a bunch as if it were one of the family ! 
Like partridges, also, these birds nest on 
the ground, but, like the pigeon family, to 
which they belong, lay only two eggs. 
These are of the usual white, and there 
seems no reason to suppose that the young, 
when hatched, are less helpless than young 
pigeons generally. 
Plumed 
Ground=Dove. 
