. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE BERNICLE GOOSE. 399 other long-legged birds, the Flamingo has a habit of standing on one leg, the other beijig drawn up and hid- den among the plumage. The curious beak of this bird is orange-yellow at the base, and black at the extremity ; and the cere is flesh-coloured. When in full plumage the colour is brilliant scarlet, with the exception of the quill feathers, which are jetty black. A full-grown bird will measure from five to six feet in height. The Bernicle Goose is found on our shores, and seems to prefer the western to the eastern coasts. T
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE BERNICLE GOOSE. 399 other long-legged birds, the Flamingo has a habit of standing on one leg, the other beijig drawn up and hid- den among the plumage. The curious beak of this bird is orange-yellow at the base, and black at the extremity ; and the cere is flesh-coloured. When in full plumage the colour is brilliant scarlet, with the exception of the quill feathers, which are jetty black. A full-grown bird will measure from five to six feet in height. The Bernicle Goose is found on our shores, and seems to prefer the western to the eastern coasts. The name of Bernicle Goose is given to this bird because the olden voyagers thought that it was produced from the conmon bar- nacle shell, and this notion had taken so strong a hold of their minds that they published several engravings representing the bird in various stages of its transfor- mation. The Bernicle Goose generally assembles in large flocks and haunts large salt-marshes near the coast, and feeds on grasses and various alg». It is a very wary bird, and not easily approached. The eggs of this species are large and white. The flesh is considered good. The bill of the Bernicle Goose is black, with a reddish streak on each side. The cheeks and throat are white, a black streak runs from the beak to the eye, the upper parts are bold and marked with black and white, and the lower parts are white. It is rather a small bird, the total length barely exceeding two feet. The beaut ful Swans now come before our notice. There are nine or ten species of these fine birds, which are well represented in the British Isles, four species being acknowledged as English birds. Our most familiar species is the Tame or Mute Swan, so called from its silent habits. This elegant and graceful bird has long been partially domesticated throughout England, and enjoys legal protection to a great ex- tent ; heavy penalties being proclaimed against anyone who kills a Swan with- out a legal FLA
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
