496 



PALMIPEDES. 



SUB-FAMILY III. 



Anserix.e. 



The True Geese. 



Gen. Charac, — Bill as long as, or shorter than, the head, the culmen much 

 elevated at the base, and graduall}' sloping to the tip, which is armed with 

 a large broad nail, the sides compressed, and the marginal laminse more or 

 less apparent ; the wings lengthened; the tarsi longer than the middle toe, 

 and the knee naked ; the toes short and strongly webbed, with the hind toe 

 short, elevated, and scarcely lobed. 



Fig. 194. — the white-fronted goose. 

 {Anser aUnfron».) 



These birds seek the higher latitudes during the 

 summer months, and as the winter appears, tliey 



