File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14727627166).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeVGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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ticle for the table. The sexes are alike in colouring and may be thus described: Forepart of the head as far as the eyes yellowish rust colour; the remainder of the plumage pure white,with the exception of the nine exterior quills, which have their bases and shafts white and the remainder black ;bare space round the eye, bill, and feet rich reddish orange; nails of the mandibles blue; irides greyishbrown. The young exhibit a very striking difference from the adults, and have the head and upper part of the neckwhite; the remainder of the neck, breast, and upper part of the back purplish brown ; all the feathers finelytipped with pale brown ; wing-coverts, lower part of the back, and rump pale ash ; primaries and secondariesblack ; tertials centred with black, and edged with light blue ; tail-coverts white; tail blackish brown edged andtipped with white ; belly and vent greyish ; bill and feet light reddish purple. We have figured an adult about one third less than the natural size. DSI
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22 Q 0 ^ -^ 1 _ ^ 3 in t» h ■■fj p rb .j ^ > GREY LAG WILD GOOSE. Anser ferus, Steph. LOie cendree ou premiere. Notwithstanding the variety of plumage which exists in our race of domesticated Geese, there is so strikinga similitude in the form of the body, the shape and colouring of the bill, and other characters, as to leave nodoubt in the minds of naturalists that they have descended from one common stock, of which the figure in ourplate is a representative in its wild or natural state. The value of this bird as an article of food, and thevarious uses made of its feathers, are so well known to all our readers that it will be quite unnecessary for usto describe the management and rearing of the numerous domestic varieties, a subject so well understood byevery one, and for a full account of which we refer our readers to the works of Pennant, &c. Althoughwe learn from the testimony of older authors that this bird was once a permanent resident in the BritishIslands, it is no

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