By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



157 



consideration ; howbeit, that which I have seen with mine eies, 

 and handled with mine hands, I dare confidently auouch, and 

 boldly put down for verity. Now if any will object that this tree 

 which I saw, might be one of those before mentioned, which either 

 by the waues of the sea, or some violent wind, had been ouerturned, 

 as many other trees are ; or that any trees falling into those seas 

 about the Orchades, will of themselves beare the like fowles, by 

 reason of those seas and waters, these being so probable. conjectures, 

 and likely to be true, I may not without prejudice gainsay, or 

 indeauour to confute." 1 The little shell-fish which these wise 

 people supposed to have brought forth the geese, still go by the 

 name of " barnacles," and the Latin name (Lapas anatifera), " the 

 goose-bearing bernicle," recalls the belief respecting them : yet 

 surely the extravagant and ridiculous theory detailed above, must 

 have severely taxed the credulity even of the ignorant and unscien- 

 tific age in which it was propounded. 



" Egyptian Goose." (Anser Egyptiacus.) I am indebted to my 

 friend Colonel Ward, of Bannerdown House, Bath, for an account 

 of the occurrence of this very handsome species in our county : 

 two of which were killed at Corsham Court some few years back, 

 and were preserved by Mr. Dangerfield of Chippenham. They 

 were in perfect plumage, and had every appearance of being 

 genuine wild specimens ; and not (as has sometimes been the case 

 with such stragglers,) mere semi-domesticated specimens which 

 had escaped from some ornamental water. The Egyptian goose is 

 a splendid bird, and the rich colours of its plumage make it an 

 exceedingly attractive species ; and when seen in a large flock, as 

 I have met with it on the sandbanks and shallows of the Nile, 

 presents as gorgeous an appearance as the most enthusiastic Orni- 

 thologist could desire. It is a very wary bird, and will not readily 

 admit of near approach, and it was only when sailing with a brisk 

 breeze, and suddenly and noiselessly rounding some corner of the 

 river, that we were enabled to come upon it at close quarters ; but 

 at such times, or occasionally when quiet at anchor in the dusk, 

 we have been in the midst of a flock, and could thoroughly admire 

 1 " Gerard's Herbal, or History of Plants." 



