The Egyptian Goose is a member of the duck, goose, and swam family Anatidae.  It is native to the parts of Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley.  Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians and frequently appeared in their artwork.  They were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians and have since been bred for food in parts of Africa.  It has also been introduced to Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, and Germany.  It swims very well and in flight looks heavy and much larger than a duck.  Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems; occasionally eating locusts and other small animals.  It was the inspiration for this watercolor, where man gently leans over the goose in an attempt to watch over it, to study it, to hold it up as sacred.