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rhe Soland Goofe. Anfer Baffenus^ 



Numb. LXXXVI. 



ITS Length from the Point of the Bill to the End of the Tail is two Foot four Inches 

 and a quarter ; Breadth when the Wings are extended three Foot fix Inches ; Weight 

 two Pound fifteen Ounces ; in Bignefs it equals the tame Goofe. 



Its Bill is three Inches and a half long, ftreighc, of a dark afh Colour, a little crooked 

 at the Point, having on each Side, not far from the Hook, an angular Appendix or Tooth, 

 like the Bills of fome rapacious Birds ; beyond the Eyes the Skin on the Sides of the Head 

 is bare of Feathers, as in the Cormorant ; the Palate, and all the Infide of the Mouth is 

 black, and the Slit of the Mouth is wide ; at the Angle of the Upfilon-like Bone is a very 

 fmall Tongue ; the Ears of a mean Size, and the Eyes hazel coloured ; it has no Noftrils, 

 but in their ftead a Furrow extended on each Side through the whole Length of the Bill j 

 the Edges of both Mandibles appear ferrate, that it may hold firmly the Fifti it catcheth ; 

 it hath four Toes all web'd together and (landing forward, and the Leg, from the Knee- 

 joint to the End of the outward fore Claw, which is the longeft, is fix Inches ; it is 

 feathered down to the Knees, and both Legs and Feet, as far as they are bare, is black ; 

 the Claw of the middle Toe is broad and pedinated on the infide as in Herons ; the Plu- 

 mage is like that of a Gaofe ; the Colour of them when they have moulted their Chicken 

 Feathers is all over white, excepting the greater quill Feathers of the Wings which are 

 black : In the old ones the Feathers on the Top of the Head, Neck and Back have a yel- 

 lowifh Call. 



The young ones are party-coloured of white, dark brown, or black, on the upper 

 Parts of their Bodies ; the Number uf quill Feathers in cadi Wing is about iliircy two, 

 and the Tail is made up of twelve Feathers about feven Inches long. 



The blind Guts are very fhort, fcarce any Footflep remaining of the Channel convey- 

 ing the Yolk into the Guts. 



Thefe Birds breed in the Bafs Ifland in Scotland^ and no where elfe, huge Numbers 

 coming yearly thither, and each Female lays only one Egg. 



Upon this Ifland the Birds being never fhot at or frightned, are fo confident as to alight 

 and feed their young ones clofe by you j they feed only upon Fi{h, yet are the young 

 Geeje counted a great Dainty by the Scots^ and fold very dear ; the Lord of the Ifle making 

 great Profits of them yearly. 



They come in the Spring, and go not away till the Autumn ; whither they go, and 

 where they winter is not known. 



Thefe Birds are very induftrious and dextrous in catching Fifh ; by which the People 

 of the Ifland are fupplied with frefh Fifh all the Summer. 



The 



