-/- 



DUCK GROUP 



the chief nutriment of other members of the group. As a rule, the 

 sexes are alike in plumai^^e. which is generally of a grey or brown 

 colour, without a metallic or white bar ("speculum") on the wing. 

 As in the swans, the beak is much expanded, armed at the tip with a 

 broad flattened " nail," and provided on the inner surface of its upper 

 half with a number of transverse plates for straining the water from the 

 food. There is apparently only one moult, which takes place soon after 

 the goslings are hatched ; and it would seem that in the adults of both 

 sexes the plumage is a permanent breeding-dress, which has completely 

 displaced the original non- breeding livery. The lower segment, or 



shank, of the leg is 

 relatively stout, con- 

 siderably longer than 

 the beak, and covered 

 all round with small 

 scales which form a 

 network-like pattern. 

 Geese, which are 

 arranged in six 

 genera, are for the 

 most part inhabitants 

 of the colder parts of 

 the northern hemi- 

 sphere, although some 

 are found in the An- 

 tarctic regions. 



In the t )• p i c a 1 

 genus A user, as re- 

 presented by the 

 grey lag goose and 

 its immediate relations, the short and sub-conical beak is high at 

 the base, with the nostrils situated about midwa\' between the latter 

 and the tip, which is covered with a large " nail " ; the wings are large, 

 but the tail, which comprises either sixteen or eighteen feathers, is short 

 and rounded ; and the legs are of medium length, placed well forward 

 on the body, and suited for walking on land. 



The grey lag goose, which measures two inches short of a yard in 

 length, is specially characterised by the bluish-grey colour of the 

 lesser wing-coverts and the feathers of the hind part of the back, 

 and the white " nail " of the beak. As regards the rest of the colour- 

 ing, the head, neck, and fore part of the breast are greyish brown, 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAND WARD STUOlQS 



GkKY LAG GANUKK. 



