PLAT £2 eee 
Mr. Latham has given this {pecies a place in his lift of the Birds of 
Great Britain; and we cannot furely incur difapprobation by follow- 
ing his example. If the authority of Mr. Latham is unfupported by 
the opinion of Mr. Pennant, we muff recollect that the Zoology of 
the latter author appeared many years before the Synopfis of Mr. 
Latham ; and probably the fpecies was not fo generally diffufed and 
domefticated in this country before the Britifh Zoology was publifhed, 
as fince that period. It is impoffible that we can account otherwife- 
for what reafon he excluded it, fince he has given the Peacock, Phea- 
fant, Guinea Hen, and other domefticated Birds of foreign extraction, 
which certainly had no better claim to his attention, in that work, 
than the beautiful Bird before us. 
This f{pecies is a native of Africa, particularly of the Cape of 
Good Hope: from the latter place vaft numbers have been brought 
~ to this country ; and the climate favouring their increafe, the kind is 
not uncommon in many parts of the kingdom. It is rather an or- 
namental than ufeful {pecies, and is generally kept in Gentlemen’s 
ponds for pleafure. 
Albin publifhed a figure and defcription of this Bird from a fpeci- 
men reared in this country fixty years ago: he fays it fed on grafs 
and corn like other Geefe, and thus concludes his obfervations on the 
two fexes, ‘‘ The difference between the cock and hen could not: 
be diftinguifhed neither by the colours or fhape, but only by the 
cock’s running to the hen with open wings, clafping or embracing 
her round with them. I could not find any other name for them 
from the Poulterers but that of Ganfer. This bird comes neareft to 
Mr. Willoughby’s Gambo Goofe, the fpan in the wings excepted, page 
360. tab. 71.°—Vide Albin. vol. ii. p. 84.” 
PLATS 
