338 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



to Africa is that it is figured with unmistakable accuracy on some of the ancient 

 Egyptian papyri, and on the tombs of her kings ; whilst coming to modern times 

 an example of the Eed-breasted Goose, labelled " Alexandria," is in the Lilford 

 collection, whilst Mr. Saunders records skins on sale in 1884 said to have come 

 from Algeria. 



Allied forms.— None of sufficient propinquity to call for notice. 



Habits.— Although the habits of this beautiful Goose are but Httle known, 

 they appear to resemble very closely those of allied species. The Russian 

 naturalist Eadde states that it winters in great numbers on the southern coasts 

 of the Caspian Sea, and that during this season and whilst on migration it con- 

 gregates into large flocks. It is shy and very difficult to approach. The Eed- 

 breasted Goose is a day feeder like the Brent Goose, but comes inland to do so 

 like the Bernacle Goose. Eadde states that the flocks visit the inland pastures 

 during the day, but at the approach of night return to the sea, and pass that 

 period at some considerable distance from land. During heavy falls of snow 

 which cover its feeding grounds, great numbers of this Goose are caught in nets 

 spread on places where the snow has been cleared away for the purpose. Many 

 birds are also shot during their migration as the thousands of flocks pass along 

 certain routes towards the Arctic regions where they rear their young. The food 

 of this Goose consists principally of grass, and the leaves and shoots of other 

 herbage. The flight note is described by Pallas and other naturalists as resem- 

 bling the syllables shak-voy, but when feeding a short trumpet-like cry is uttered 

 somewhat similar to that of the Brent Goose. 



Nidification — Von Middendorff obtained the first authentic eggs of the 

 Eed-breasted Goose on the banks of the Boganida, in Northern Siberia, on the 6th 

 of July. In more recent times another nest was discovered on July 1st, on an island 

 in the delta of the Yenisei, containing two eggs, one of which was broken, as the 

 female was shot upon them, and the other was brought to Seebohm, then on his 

 visit to the valley of that river. The nest was described as being like that of the 

 Bean Goose, only not so large. A month later that gentleman observed broods of 

 Eed-breasted Geese and their parents on the banks of the river a few miles to the 

 south of the locality where the nest had been discovered. The nests found by 

 Mr. Popham were placed at the foot of a cliff, occupied by either a Peregrine or a 

 Eough-legged Buzzard, and were well supplied with down of a creamy-white 

 colour. The eggs, from seven to nine in number, are creamy-white in colour, 

 somewhat smooth in texture, very fragile, and measure on an average 2-75 inches 

 in length by 1-8 inch in breadth. There can be little doubt that this species 

 rears one brood only in the year. 



Diagnostic characters — Branta, with the forehead black, the lores 

 white, and the throat and breast rich chestnut. Length, 22 inches, 



