ORINOCO GOOSE 201 



patches on the wings and scapulars. The color of the upper side is in sharp contrast to the pure white 

 of the lower side and forms a striking color pattern. According to F. E. Blaauw (Bull Soc. d'Acclimat. 

 Paris, vol. 37, p. 60, 1890) the bill and feet are black. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Like its congener, the Egyptian Goose, this species is non-migratory. It is a strictly tropical bird, and 

 makes its home in the basin of the Orinoco and of the Amazons, with their tributaries. On the Orinoco 

 it is the commonest species of duck (Cherrie, 1916; Taylor, Ibis, ser. 1, vol. 6, p. 96, 1864; Sclater and 

 Salvin, 1876; Andre, 1904; Ernst, 1877). South of the Orinoco it was also met with in great numbers 

 (Burger, Reisen eines Naturforschers, p. 329, 1900). In British Guiana R. Schomburgk found it on 

 the Lower Takutu, while Burmeister (1856) and the Penards (1908-10) have recorded it for Dutch 

 Guiana. 



The Orinoco Goose has a wide distribution in the interior of Brazil, but it is rare on Mexiana Island 

 (Hagmann, 1907) and seems to be absent from the coastal regions. Its headquarters are unquestion- 

 ably the basins of the Amazons and its confluents. Natterer met with the species throughout the im- 

 mense region of Matto Grosso, and along the courses of the Rio Guapore, Rio Madeira and Rio 

 Negro (von Pelzeln, 1868-71), and the type specimen came from the Rio Solimoens (Spis, Av. Brasil., 

 vol. 2, p. 84, 1825). Westward the species extends to Peru, where it was taken by Bartlett (P. L. 

 Sclater and Salvin, 1866) on the lower Ucayali. Southward the species seems to occur in Bolivia, 

 for the British Museum has a specimen from there and another was taken at Tatarenda, near Caiza, 

 in the Bolivian Chaco (Lonnberg, 1903). In this same general region a specimen was taken near Oran, 

 Salta Province, Argentina (Bruch, 1904). 



GENERAL HABITS 



Haunts. The Orinoco Goose is practically confined to the basins of the Amazons 

 and the Orinoco, being the commonest "duck" on the latter river (Cherrie, 1916). 

 In spite of its abundance, and of the fact that it is kept in European collections, very 

 little has been recorded concerning its habits or life-history. In posture and general 

 appearance it closely resembles its congener, the Egyptian Goose, but unlike that 

 species it inhabits wet and densely wooded tropical forests. On the other hand, it 

 resembles its relative in being absent or rare in coastal areas, and in its habit 

 of living in pairs in the higher alluvial regions (F. P. and A. P. Penard, 1908-10). 

 It is rarely met with in flocks, although large gatherings have been described. 

 The birds may assemble to moult as do Egyptian Geese (F. P. and A. P. Penard, 

 1908-10). 



Wabiness. The travelers who mention this bird do not speak of it as particularly 

 shy, and were evidently able to kill many in one day, when they so desired. 



Voice. I do not know how the voice of this species compares with that of the 

 Egyptian Goose, but the sexes probably have entirely different call-notes. When, 

 during the breeding season, the males engage in fierce battles, they utter a constant, 

 loud, guttural honking, making a deafening racket (Cherrie, 1916). In the Orinoco 



