EGYPTIAN GOOSE 197 



as many as fifty birds and flighting about the country during the dry season (von 

 Heuglin, 1873). By January and February immense congregations are seen on the 

 White Nile, where they moult, shed their quill-feathers and become incapable of 

 flight (A. L. Butler, 1905; Koenig, 1911; Ogilvie-Grant, 1902). As many as sixty out 

 of a flock of two hundred have been found incapable of rising from the water at this 

 season (A. L. Butler, 1905). Layard (1875-84) mentions similar large congregations 

 on the vleis of South Africa, and notes that they are much sought after at that time 

 because they are fat; but they dive so readily that even when they are flightless 

 they are very difficult to kill. 



Status. Though said to be not so common as formerly in lower Egypt, many still 

 breed in upper Egypt (Nicoll, 1919). They are holding their numbers so far as 

 known in other localities. 



Enemies. According to A. E. Brehm (1879) eagles and crocodiles constitute a 

 menace to these birds in eastern Sudan. Zedlitz (1910) also speaks of their "being 

 in constant danger from crocodiles " in Abyssinia. 



Food Value. The flesh of this species has been almost invariably described as 

 unfit for the table, even the young being unpalatable, according to Horsbrugh (1912). 

 Blanford (1870), however, speaks of it as good eating, and A. E. Brehm (1879) says 

 the young are "very tasty," while the mature birds make "excellent soup." 



Hunt. Layard (1875-84) describes lying in ambush to shoot these geese on their 

 evening flights, in South Africa, where they always shifted their quarters at night. 

 The first night they succeeded in killing a large number by the discharge of eight 

 barrels. The next night they were able to repeat the performance, though the geese 

 had changed their line of flight. The third night, however, the geese avoided that 

 part of the country altogether, making a tremendous circuit to reach their feeding 

 grounds. 



As remarked above, the birds are very difficult to kill even when moulting, and 

 at all times require a hard-hitting gun, if they are to be brought down. British 

 officers stationed at Khartum told me of their hunts for Nile Geese, and how seldom 

 they were able to make a large "bag." 



Behavior in Captivity. This goose was well known in ancient Egypt where it 

 was perhaps domesticated, but this does not seem to be certain. Ancient paintings 

 from Thebes portray the Nile Goose on the front of a boat, being used as a decoy 

 bird in a hunting scene. It is often seen figured on Egyptian monuments and when 

 used as a hieroglyphic means "son," apparently because the birds are so solicitous 

 of their young. In Egyptian mythology they were sacred to Seb, God of the Earth, 

 and father of Osiris. Their mummies have been found at Thebes and in the Temple 

 of Thotmes Third at Gurnah. 



