8. Egyptian Goose Clearly, the ancient Egyptians were lovers of animals: ibises, hawks and herons, as well as baboons, cats, cobras and frogs appear in their paintings and hieroglyphics (writing, again); and also geese. These were linked to fertility – they are very good breeders – and were thought to be messengers of the gods. But they were also kept for their ornamental value, for they are certainly handsome and justly popular birds: the dark ‘shadow’ over each eye – said to be reminiscent of foxes – gives them an especially alluring image, perhaps, and they are often seen depicted in ancient Egyptian paintings. A good many must have escaped, for they are now established in Western Europe, the USA and New Zealand. There’s an argument over whether they are really ducks rather than geese. One thing I read claimed that the criterion for goose-ness is the number of vertebrae in the neck, which would make this goose a duck, for its neck is shorter than other geese. I was interested to notice that the Egyptians painted them has having noticeably long and goose-like necks, so perhaps they thought of geese, as we do, as somehow more noble than your more common or garden duck. Birds of AFRICAMA House 20 Birds of AFRICAMA House 21