122 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL, 
nests must be looked for among the branches. In Africa, they generally 
select for this purpose the thorny mimosa. Their nest is very generally 
constructed of branches derived from the tree itself, intermixed with 
smaller twigs, and warmly lined with grasses.”’ 
The breeding season in that country commences in the 
early autumn, but this would, of course, differ in the case of 
specimens kept in confinement with us. The Egyptian Goose 
is extremely savage, and a terrible pest when kept with other 
waterfowl ; it is, in fact, so dangerous an inhabitant of the duck- 
pond, that it is scarcely advisable to admit it into a mixed 
society, unless the extent of the water is such as to permit of 
easy escape for the smaller and more inoffensive kinds. Their 
evil propensities are so marked that the amateur will do well to 
consider before he decides to introduce this bird to his collec- 
tion, although tempted by its beauty and the low price (about 
42 4 pair) at which it is usually offered. When caught, it will 
turn round in the hand and grip the captor savagely, the strong 
pinch often bringing blood, at the same time striking with the 
wings, which are very strong and inflict such severe bruises that 
it is a matter of difficulty to retain the birds. I found that two 
male birds of this description will fight to the death, pursuing 
each other with shrieks of rage, biting fiercely, striking out with 
their powerful claws till the blood runs, the victor finally standing 
on his antagonist’s back, seizing him by the neck, and literally 
drowning him by keeping his head under water. 
Still, as may often be remarked, the male and female are 
tenderly attached, and the former will return to his mate after a 
sanguinary encounter with an enemy, and, raising his body 
almost erect, will puff out his breast, and stretching wide his 
long wings, will dance round her with a singular gobbling cry, 
evidently indicative of victory and triumph. 
These birds appear to depend less upon vegetable food 
than the True Geese or Bernicles, and will thrive well on barley 
