SPUR-WINGED GOOSE.
GAM in GOOSE.
Anser Gambensis,
Anas Gambensis,
FLEMING.
BEWICK.
Anser—A Goose. Gambensis—From the Gambia (?)
T i n s is another African species.
One of these birds was killed in Cornwall, near St. Germans, the
20th. of June, 1821.
About the middle of February, 1855, another was shot near Banff,
N.B.—an appropriate 'Nota Bene' of the occurrence of the second
English or European specimen of this rare bird—as recorded in ' T he
Naturalist,' for August, 1855, by Mr. Thomas Edward, of that place.
Another was shot at Upavon Manor Farm, near Pewsey, Wiltshire,
September 3rd., 1869, by Mr. J. Itowden. It was a young bird, but in
in fine plumage. It had previously been seen among some tame geese
in the farm-yard.
The Spur-winged Goose has been kept in the garden of the Zoological
Society. It appears to be of a morose and domineering disposition.
The spur on tin; wing, whence the name of the bird, seems to be used
as a weapon of attack. The one mentioned in the beginning of this
article, was observed, when first seen, to associate with some Geese of
the common kind, at a farm.
Male; hill, dull reddish orange yellow; iris, amber-coloured. Head
on the crown, dull brown; neck on the back, also the same colour;
on the sides of the upper part, white spotted with brown; on the
lower, black. Chin and throat, white; breast on the sides, black; in
front and all down, white; back, deep metallic brown, showing purple
and copper-colour in different lights, beautifully burnished with dark
green.
The wings are armed at the bend with a strong spur, about five