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Platalea leucorodia Linn., Great 

 Spoonbill. 



Platalea minor T. & S., Lesser 

 Spoonbill. 



ORDER ANSERIFORMES, GOOSE-LIKE BIRDS. 



This order is distinguished by hav- 

 ing four toes, the front three fully 

 webbed, tarsi not strikingly flattened 

 as in the Grebes; the tail is always 

 well developed ; bill with tooth-like 

 projections, fluted ridges, or gutters 

 along the sides. In some species the 

 bill is more or less tapering to a point 

 in all, however, the upper mandible 

 terminates in a nail. 



This cosmopolitan order embraces 

 but one family, the Anatidae, which 

 is divided into several clearly marked 

 sub-families, under which they can be 

 most conveniently described. The 

 whole family numbers about 210 

 species, of which 37 representatives 

 are found in China. 



The family is divided into five sub- 

 families : — 



1. Cygninae, the Swans ; 



2. Anserinae, the Geese. These 

 birds have the hind toe not lobed. 



3. Anatinae, the River Ducks. 

 These birds have the hind toe narrowly 

 lobed. 



4. Fuliginae, the Sea Ducks ; 



5. Merginae Mergansers. These 

 birds have the hind toe broadly lobed. 



Sub-Family, Cygninae, Swans. 



Swans are the largest members of 

 the family, and are technically distin- 

 guished by having the lores bare, all 

 the other members of the family 

 having them feathered. The neck is 

 as long or longer than the body, the 



