52 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 
It was one of the species kept in the Knowsley aviaries, 
and laid eggs in the Zoological Gardens in 1868, though no young 
were hatched. It is a quarrelsome bird, and likely to be 
dangerous in a mixed collection. I have seen it seize smaller 
birds, such as Teal and Pochards, in its powerful bill, and run 
rapidly round a paddock with its prize, dropping it when 
pursued, and evidently enjoying the mischief. Some fine 
specimens are preserved in the British Museum, Cromwell Road. 
The market value varies from £4 to £10 the pair. 
Male.—Top of head, nape, neck, upper breast and back 
black, with metallic green reflections; cheeks and throat 
brownish-white ; breast, shoulder, and abdomen white; feet 
reddish-yellow, with long strong toes; wings long and pointed, 
armed with a powerful curved spur at the first joint; bill large, 
with a horn or tubercle on the upper mandible, both being 
of a reddish colour ; eye very large, dark brown. 
Female.—Similar to male, but smaller, and the knob 
on the bill not so large. 
Young.—In down, fawn and brown; bill large and 
yellow. First feathers more brown than black. The tubercle 
not developed during the first year. 
Egg.—Yellowish-white ; three to six in number. July— 
August. 
Nest Down.—Ashy-grey. 
KUPPELL’S SPUR-WINGED GOOSE. 
(Plectropterus rueppeltt ). 
This Spur-winged Goose, which is considerably larger 
than the preceding variety, was acquired in 1858 by the 
Zoological Society of London, and was there identified as a 
