637 



CHENALOPEX. FOX-GOOSE. 



This genus appears to me to be intermediate between 

 those of Anser and Tadorna, resembling the former in some 

 resrjects and the latter in others. From the Geese properly 

 so called, the Egyptian Fox-Goose, the best-known represen- 

 tative of this genus differs very little in form, and in colour 

 approaches to the Shiel Ducks, of which the bill is very diffe- 

 rent. In few words Chenalopex may be defined as similar in 

 form to Anser, but with the bill somewhat more depressed 

 toward the end, and less narrowed, with the nail more curved, 

 the lamellae not apparent externally, the wings with a promi- 

 nent rounded knob on the flexure, the colours of the plumage 

 more varied than in the Geese. 



Bill of nearly the same length as the head, stout, straight, 

 sub-conical when viewed laterally, but when seen from above 

 little narrower toward the end than at the base, where it is 

 not much higher than broad ; upper mandible with the lateral 

 and superior basal margins forming a small segment of a 

 circle, the angles between them short and rather obtuse, the 

 basal margin thickened aud fleshy, the ridge rather broad and 

 flattened at the base, gradually narrow and convex, the dorsal 

 line decimate, between the nostrils and unguis rather con- 

 cave, the sides convex, the edges soft and marginate, with the 

 outer ends of the oblique lamellae thin and not projecting, the 

 unguis roundish, at the base somewhat angular, very convex, 

 and much decurved ; lower mandible with the intercrural 

 space long, rather wide, its membrane bare unless at the base, 

 the short dorsal line little convex, the crura long, narrow, 

 their lower outline straight, the edges elevated, inclinate, 

 externally ridged, and above denticulate with the short outer 

 extremities of the numerous, oblique lamellae, the unguis 

 broad, roundish, and transversely convex. 



