CEYLON WATER BIRDS. 329 
Order ANSERES. 
Family ANATIDZ. 
Geese and Ducks. 
The Anatids, which comprise the Swans, Geese, and Ducks, 
form the only family of this familiar and world-wide order. 
The three front toes are fully webbed ; the hind toe is small, 
and set on the leg higher up than the others. The bill is 
straight and covered with a membrane of soft skin, except on 
the nail, or “‘ dertrum,” at the tip of the upper mandible. 
The edges of both mandibles are laminated, the ridged pro- 
cesses varying in development among the different genera. 
The tongue is large and toothed at the sides to correspond 
with the ridges of the mandibles. Many of the family are 
migrants ; those that breed in northern climates generally 
build a nest on the ground and line it with their own down ; 
the species resident in warmer countries, as a rule, build in 
trees, and the warm nest-lining is more scanty or altogether 
wanting. The eggs are numerous, white or pale in colour, and 
unspotted. The nestlings when hatched are downy, and can 
run about and feed themselves. At the moulting season all 
the wing quills are shed at once, so that for some time the 
birds are unable to fly. 
According to the classification adopted by Blanford, the 
family is divided into four sub-families. 
To one of those—Anatine, the Ducks—belong all the 
authenticated Ceylon members of the order. There are 
traditions of the occurrence of Geese in the Island, but the 
other two sub-families—Swans and Mergansers—are with us 
unknown. 
Sub-family Anserinez. 
Geese. 
Geese, though they swim well, spend more of their time 
upon land and less upon water than do the Ducks, having the 
legs set further forward on the body and adapted for walking. 
The nostrils are placed nearly half-way down the bill, which 
is comparatively short and high at the base. The wings are 
long and broad, and the tail rounded. 
