ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWI.. 53 
separate species from the Spur-winged Goose of Western Africa 
(Plectropterus gambensts), by Dr. Sclater. Riippell’s Goose is 
an inhabitant of Abyssinia and Eastern Africa, being larger, 
higher on the leg, and somewhat different in appearance from 
the Gambia Geese. Dr. Sclater points out that “there is 
a large oblong naked space of bare pink skin on the throat, 
which is wholly wanting in the West African bird; the beak is 
longer, and the bony protuberance on the front is much larger 
and more elevated.” There are also stuffed specimens in the 
British Museum. This bird is occasionally procurable at from 
410 to £12 the pair. 
Male.—Back of head, neck, upper body, and sides, glossy 
bronze and black ; front of face, throat, and under parts white ; 
bill red, with a large bony protuberance on the upper mandible ; 
naked pink skin on the throat; feet red. 
Female.—The same, but without the protuberance on 
the bill. 
Young.—No information. 
Egg.—No information. 
BLACK SPUR-WINGED GOOSE. 
(Plectropterus niger). 
Two males of this species were presented to the Zoological 
Gardens of London by Lieut.-General A. V. Cunyngham, Com- 
manding H.M. Forces at Cape Town in 1876. These birds 
were identified as a separate species by Dr. P. L. Sclater, 
who, in an address to the Zoological Society, stated that the 
habitat of this variety is Zanzibar and the S.E. African Coast. 
It is from Dr. Sclater’s letter that I extract the description 
appended of the adult birds. That of the young bird I offer 
