( 25 ) 



number of vertebrae in it varying from 

 23 to 30, as compared with 20 in other 

 Anseres. 



Swans feed from the surface of the 

 water by tipping up, or by simply 

 immersing their long necks and heads. 

 Their food consists largely of vegetable 

 matter, but they also eat small 

 mollusks. 



They migrate in V shaped flocks, 

 much like the Geese. 



The following forms are rather rare 

 winter visitants : — 



Olor cygnus (h\ Whooper or Wild 

 Swan. 



Olor bewicki minor (K. and B.,) 

 Bewick's Swan. 



Sub-Family, Anserinae, Geese. 



Geese may be recognized by having 

 proportionately longer legs than ducks, 

 the tarsus being longer than middle 

 toe without the nail, and the scales in 

 front hexagonal instead of narrow like 

 the ducks. They differ from the 

 Swans in having the neck always 

 shorter than the body, although longer 

 than in most of the ducks. 



Geese are vegetarians, frequently 

 visiting the land to nip the herbage. 

 When on the water they feed by tip- 

 ping up like the River Ducks. In 

 migration they fly in a V shaped flock, 

 led by an old gander. 



THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



ANSEE ALBIFEONS (sCOP). 



Description. — Length 27 inches. 

 Bill pale red, nail white. Iris pale 

 brown. Legs orange. There is a 



