AVES. 385 



Choristojms Eyton, Anseranas Less., Geay. Bill moderate, 

 somewhat thick, with margins lamelloso-dentate, the lamellas de- 

 pressed, not exsert. Hallux simple. Tarsi rather long, reticulate. 

 Feet semipalmate. 



Sp. Choristopus melanoleucus, Anas mdanoleuca Lath., Cuv. Mem. du Mus. 

 XIV. 1827, PI. 19, from New Holland ; a species about the size of a stork, 

 of which it has nearly the feet. 



Anser Briss. Bill shorter than head, narrowed towards the 

 tip, at the base higher than broad, with conical marginal lamina3. 

 Nostrils in middle part of bill. Tarsi reticulate. Hallux simple. 



The r/eese have their legs higher and placed not so far backward as the 

 ducks proper; hence also they run better. Their swimming membranes are 

 shorter ; they swim less and do not dive. Many species make use of vege- 

 table food. There is no difference of plumage in the two sexes, a difference 

 generally so remarkable in the ducks. 



Cereopsis Lath. Bill short, high at the base, declivous towards 

 the tip, convex. Nostrils placed in the cere. 



Sp. Cereopsis Novce IloJlandiai Lath., Suppl. 11. p. 325, PI. 138, Temm. PL 

 color. 209, Less. Ornith. PI. 109, fig. i. 



Anser Briss. 



Sp. Anser cinereus Meyer, Anas anser ferus L., Less. Ornith. PI. 117, fig. 2, 

 Naum. Taf. 285 ; bill yellowish-orange, black below, the wings extend to 

 the point of the tail. From this species the different races of tame geese 

 descend. — Anas ser/ctim Gm., Buff. PI. enl. 985, Naum. Taf. 287; the 

 bill is black at the base and the tip orange in the middle ; the wings extend 

 as far as or beyond the point of the tail. Both species migrate here in the 

 cold season of the year. 



CJienalopex Steph. 



Anser aigyptiacus, Anas wgijptiaca L., Buff. PI. enl. 379, Menagerie du 

 Mus. d'Hist. nat. 1804, 8vo, r. pp. 285—296; in Africa; according to 

 Geoffr. St.-Hilaiee the xvva\dnrv^ of the ancients, which was sacred 

 amongst the Egyptians on account of the love it shews for its young ; see 

 -(Elian, de Anim. Natura, Lib. v. 30, x, r6, xi. 38. Others refer this bird 

 to the Anas Tadorna L. ; see Schneider in his edition of Aeistoteles de 

 Anim. Hist. in. p. 61 1 ; F. Jacobs in his edition of ^lianus follows the 

 opinion of Geoffrot. 



2^ote. — Add sub-genera: Bernida Stephens, Nettapus Brandt, 

 and some others, on which consult Gray. 



Cygnus Meuer. Bill with margins lamelloso-dentate, at the 

 base higher than broad, above at the base flat or depressed, not 

 VOL. II. 25 



