﻿42 ANATID/E. 



geese, namely, grazing ; it also partook of other vegetable 

 food. 



In its manners this bird seemed sulky and over-bearing, and 

 towards the other water-birds, that were kept in the same 

 compartment, it was so very spiteful that some of the 

 inmates were obliged to be taken to other parts of the 

 gardens ; the near approach of another species of Goose 

 or Duck made it use its formidable weapon, the spur on 

 the wing, with such effect, that the poor devoted object was 

 careful to keep for the future at a distance from its persecutor. 

 Our drawing was made from the bird alluded to, and al- 

 though its plumage was not in very good condition, we can 

 vouch for the correctness of its representation, as well as for 

 the accuracy of colouring in the beak, legs, and eyes, sub- 

 jects that cannot be relied on in cabinet specimens. 



The dimensions of the Spur-winged Goose are as follow : — 

 The wing measures, from the carpus to the tip, eighteen 

 inches, including the spur, which is seven lines : the beak, 

 from the gape, three inches, from the forehead also three 

 inches ; from the tip of the beak to the front corner of the 

 eye three inches nine lines ; the tarsus three inches six lines ; 

 the middle toe three inches three lines, or including the nail, 

 three inches nine lines ; outer toe, including the nail, three 

 inches five lines ; inner toe and nail three inches, hinder toe 

 one inch three lines ; the second, third, and fourth quills of 

 equal length, and the longest in the wing ; the first and 

 fifth seven lines shorter ; the tertials are as long as the quill- 

 feathers. 



The beak and fleshy knob on the forehead and orbits 

 are red, as also the legs and feet ; the eyes are amber- 

 coloured. 



The upper part of the head, neck, and sides of the breast 

 are dusky ; the chin, throat, and ear-coverts are white ; the 



