﻿36 ANATID.fi. 



The small flocks before mentioned as visiting us occa- 

 sionally, are most probably families, consisting of the two 

 old birds and their offspring : we are strengthened in this 

 belief by the fact that, where such have been seen in a cer- 

 tain spot, part of them frequently fly off" to some little 

 distance, while two will remain on the ground, and continue 

 there for some time, if unmolested. 



The food of the Cravat Goose consists chiefly of the tops 

 of divers kinds of herbage, and such insects, &c, as are found 

 among the roots of aquatic plants. 



The flesh of the Cravat Goose is very good, and the 

 birds are consequently welcome visitors in dreary northern 

 countries to the inhabitants, who obtain them in great num- 

 bers during the summer season. 



The dimensions of the adult bird are as follows : — 



The entire length three feet five or six inches ; the beak 

 two inches two lines ; the tarsus three inches six lines ; 

 the wing, from the carpus to the tip, nineteen inches and a 

 half. The head and neck are black, with a purple reflection ; 

 on the front of the neck below the throat is a white gorget 

 that almost reaches up to the nape. The upper parts are 

 cinereous brown, which colour extends over the sides and 

 flanks, with lighter coloured tips to each feather ; all the rest 

 of the under parts are clean white ; the rump, tail, and quills, 

 are dusky black ; the upper tail-coverts are white ; the eyes 

 are brown ; the beak, legs, and feet, bluish black. 



The egg figured %33 is that of the Cravat Goose. 



