﻿46 ANATID/E. 



On the water it swims apparently with great exertion, 

 having its fore-parts very low in the water, and its hinder 

 parts very much elevated ; to such an extent, that when 

 swimming its knees are invariably above that element. 

 When the Egyptian Goose is pursued, it does not take to 

 the water, unless as a means of crossing over to the op- 

 posite shore, but it runs for the shelter of some bush 

 or thicket of long herbage, which proves the fact of its 

 being more a land than a water inhabitant. On the wing 

 the Egyptian Goose is strong, and easily to be detected 

 by its appearance, in consequence of its very long pinions, but 

 it has great trouble apparently in rising from the ground ; 

 during its migrations it flies high, and when in a flock, 

 they form double lines, after the manner of other Geese. 



In its natural disposition, the Egyptian Goose appears 

 spiteful and quarrelsome, but at the same time shy ; yet 

 when once tamed, it is apparently satisfied ; it requires, 

 nevertheless, much care and attention. 



Its call-note resembles most in its utterance that of the 

 common goose, yet not without a peculiarity of its own. 



The dimensions of this goose are as follow : — 



The entire length twenty-three inches ; the expanse of 

 the wings fifty-six inches ; the beak two inches ; the tarsus 

 three inches seven lines ; the middle toe, including the claw, 

 three inches three lines. 



The adult male has the beak red, with the nail, margins 

 and base black ; the eyes are yellow : the legs and feet red ; 

 the throat, forehead, and crown, are white ; the nape and 

 back of the neck, the back and tertials are ferruginous 

 brown, finely pencilled with undulating transverse lines ; 

 a patch surrounding the eyes, chestnut-brown ; the cheeks 

 and sides of the head are white with a tinge of rufous; 

 the base of the neck is surrounded by a ferruginous band ; 



