( *53 ) 
The Laughing-Goose. 
T HIS Bird is of the Size of our common Wild Goole : All its 
Meafures agree very nearly with the Blue-winged Goofe def- 
cribed in the foregoing Page. 
The Bill is of a red Colour all over, made as in other Geefe, and 
toothed on its Edges both above and beneath ; the Tongue is alfo 
jagged on its Sides. The Feathers all round the Safe of the upper 
Mandible of the Bill are White ; the reft of the Head and all the Neck 
is Brown ; the Crown is darkeft, and approaching to Black. The Sides 
of the Head under the Eyes, and the Fore-part of the Neck lighter 
Brown. The Back, Wings and Tail are of a greyifh, brown Colour, 
the Edges of the Feathers fomething lighter than their middle Parts j 
the greater Quills approach to Black ; the firft Row of Covert-Fea- 
thers above the Quills are Afh-colour’d, with white Tips ; the lower 
Edge of the Wing, that falls on the Breaft and Belly, is alfo Afh-co- 
lour’d for fome Breadth the Infides of the Wings and the Sides under 
the Wings are of a dusky Brown. The Covert-Feathers on the upper 
Side of the Tail are White. The Breaft, Belly, Thighs and Covert- 
Feathers beneath the Tail are White, except fome Plats of black Spots 
on the Breaft and Belly, beft underftood by the Figure. The Legs, 
and Feet are like thofe in the laft defcribed, of a red Colour ; the 
Toes in each Foot are four, three forward webbed together, and a fmall 
Toe behind that is loofe. 
This Bird was brought from Hudfon\-Bay by Mr. I (ham, and I be- 
lieve, hath never been defcribed. Tho’ I think I have feen the fame Bird, 
in fome hard Winters, to be fold at fome Poulterer’s Shops in the Lon- 
don Markets ; fo that I believe this is one of thofe Water- Fowl which 
are common to the Northern Parts both of Europe and America. It has 
been obferved by many, that there are more Water-Fowls Natives both 
of America and Europe , than of Land-Fowls, which cannot fo eafily 
pafs over Streights or open Seas from one Country to another. 
The 
