GEESE AND DUCKS 245 



It takes a lot of shot, being exceedingly tough in the adult 

 stage. The eggs are shiny white and nearly 3 inches in 

 length. 



The Dwarf Goose {Nettapus auritus) is, as its trivial name 

 indicates, a very diminutive member of the Goose tribe. 

 It is dark metallic-green, brown, black and white in colora- 

 tion, and is quite a neat, handsome little bird. Length, only 

 1 foot. 



It is met with along the coast and on some of the larger 

 rivers, and we procured it at Port Elizabeth. 



The Egyptian Goose {Chenalopex cegyftiacus), called by 

 the Boers the Berg Gans (Mountain Goose), is a pretty 



Fig. 127.^-Egyptian Geese (enlarged to show detail). 



graceful bird ; it is black above, except the crown, which 

 is white ; nape and neck- greyish fawn, with a narrow pale 

 chestnut collar ; the wings are ashy brown ; below greyish 

 white and pale chestnut, the sides of the body and lower 

 neck being grey mottled with fine bands of black. The 

 ring round the eye and round patch on the breast — both 

 bright chestnut — ^will serve to easily distinguish this bird 

 from any of its kind. Length, 28 inches. 



