ANATID.E. 495 



spurs, somewliat resembling those on the legs of a 

 fighting cock, wherewith they are able to inflict 

 ugly wounds. Their flight is easy, and performed 

 by slow flappings of their wings ; and some of them 

 have the faculty of perching, or even of roosting, 

 upon trees. Most of the species are conspicuous 

 on account of the glowing green colour of their 

 wings and the varied tints of their plumage. They 

 walk well, and are generally found in the neighbour- 

 hood of extensive marshes, where, on account of 

 the length of their legs, they seem to prefer walking 

 to swimming. The best-known species, — 



The Semi-palmated Goose [Anseranus mekmoleucus), 

 is peculiar to Australia. " When New South Wales was 

 first colonized, tliis line species was very abundant on the 

 Hawkesbury ; it is, however, no longer a denizen of that 

 river, nor of any of the streams within the colony ; atFord- 

 ing another proof that the progress of civilization inva- 

 riably leads to the gradual extirpation of the more con- 

 spicuous of the natural productions of the countries over 

 wliich it extends its sway. It is still abundant in such 

 parts of the Port Phillip district as are unlocated by the 

 settler, and as we progress northwards gradually becomes 

 more numerous until we reach the rivers and lagoons 

 wliich empty themselves into Torres Straits. Here it 

 occurs in such countless multitudes that it forms one of 

 the chief articles of the food of the aborigines. So dense 

 are the flocks that occur in the northern parts of the 

 countiy, that the natives are enabled to procure multi- 

 tudes of them by spearing ; — they only spear them when 

 flying, and always crouch down when they see a flight of 

 them approaching ; the geese, however, know their ene- 

 mies so well, that they immediately turn upon seeing a 

 native rise and put his spear into the thro wing-stick. — 

 {Gould, ^^ Birds of Australia") 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Fox-Goose {Che^ialoj^ex"' juhatus), so called, appa- 

 rently, on account of the tawny colour of many parts of 

 its plumage. 



* Xi]v, chen, a goose; a\u>7r)]K, alopex, a fox. 



z 2 



