plucked and eaten; so little was the rarity

the market of that town,
ular place and period.

ty of London who take
in the finest state of plumage, in one of

individual, although it has now passed more than

 

Red-breasted Geese were sold in
of the species known at that partic

Those Fellows of the Zoological Socie
of its aviaries, cannot have failed to notice a living
t apart for Ducks and Geese. This fine
never been ‘sick or

an especial interest in the inhabitants

example,

the enclosures se
in semiconfinement, has
off its feathers and effected its moult
as tame and familiar as any Goose can be. Many longing eyes
the event of its death, their owner

twenty years sorry,” but, as regularly as the seasons
have 0 round, has cast as perfectly as it would have done in
its native home. It has now become
it, accompanied with the desire that, in
National collection is its proper resting
that those who view this interesting bird there

have doubtless looked upon
might become its possessor ; but the -place; and we only hope
it does die it may be in a res}
is the
the Red-breasted Goose is
ason to believe that the living bird in the Zoological

yectable dress,
thousands have done who have seen it in life *.
more nearly akin to the little Brent than

that when
may regard it with as much pleasure ¢

In form, size, and general contour,
and as we have every re
in strict accordance with the specimens of the opposite sex

we may naturally infer that, as is the case with the Brent
the habits and economy of the two

any other Goose ;
Gardens is a female, and its plumage is
I have had opportunities of examining,
Goose, no difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes, and that
species have a general resemblance.

As Mr. Yarrell truly remarked, but little is known respecting this beautiful species. ‘*The most
interesting recent notice,” he says, “I have been able to find is by M. Ménétriés, in bis Catalogue Raisonne
d by the naturalists attached to the Russian expedition to the vicinity of the

of objects of zoology observe
This gentleman mentions that, in 1828, a considerable flock of

Caucasus and the frontiers of Persia.
probably driven there by strong winds ; they were so exhausted by

this species appeared at Leukoran,
captivity, to which they were easily

fatigue that they were caught by hand ; and many were preserved in
kept together, and uttered a gentle call-note when any of their party separated

reconciled. They always
a bird of prey hovered over them ; this was the only sound that was heard. Of

from the others, or when
the food placed before them they preferred green vegetables to grain, and drank often.”
The flesh of the Red-breasted Goose, being quite free from any fishy taste, is said to be highly esteemed
for the table.
Latham states that it “is called by the Ostiacs Tschakwoi, from 1 i i
ap s th at it “is called by the Ostiacs Tschakwoi, from its voice ; and by the Samoids Tschagu.”
ie front hgure Is § whe at < ife ; 1 ai e f i 1
gure is somewhat under that of life; the hinder one represents an immature bird procured

on the Nile.

* While these pages were being printe is i i

While these pages were being printed, this beautiful and valuable bird was, unfortunately, killed by a Swan who, in one of

those moments of ire to which that bird is subject, fell upon the poor little Goose, and, the keeper being absent beat it i. death in :
> Db ?

a few minutes. As above suggested, the stuffed skin will be added to the National Collection —June 1870