INTRODUCTION. XXVll 



Chen, F. Boie. — Bill shorter than the head, veiy robust, and higher than broad 

 at the base ; culmen slightly convex, the outline of the lower mandible de- 

 cidedly so, leaving an elliptical space displaying the lamellae. Nostrils sub- 

 basal. P'eathers on the neck less conspicuously furrowed than in true Anser. 

 Wings long, full, the second quill the longest. Tail rather short and 

 rounded. Tibia feathered to the joint; tarsus moderately long, reticulate; 

 three anterior toes connected by a memljrane ; hind toe short and elevated 

 (P- 393) 



Bernicla, F. Boie. — Biirmuch shorter than the head, sub-conicnl, higher than 

 broad at the base, narrowing to the end; nail broadly ovate; edges of the 

 bill nearly straight, scarcely showing the margins of the lamellae. Nostrils 

 oval, placed in the anterior portion of the nasal depression, near the centre 

 of the bill. Feathers on the neck narrow, blended. Wings large, the second 

 quill usually the longest. Tail short, rounded. Legs short and stout, the 

 tarsus reticulate ; the three anterior toes long, united by a membrane ; hind toe 

 small and elevated; claws small, that on the middle toe broadly rounded 



(P- 395)- 

 Cygnus, Bcchstein. — '^\\\ of equal breadth throughout its length, higher than 

 wide at the base, depressed at the point ; both mandibles furnished along the 

 sides with transverse serrated lamellee. Lores chiefly naked. Nostrils oblong, 

 lateral, near the middle of the beak. Neck slender and very long. Legs 

 short ; tarsi reticulated ; the three front toes fully webbed, the hind toe small 

 and free. Sexes alike in plumage (p. 401). 



Tadorna, Flemmg. — Wil about the length of the head, higher than broad at the 

 base, depressed or concave in the middle, breadth nearly equal throughout; 

 under mandible much narrower than the upper, and the latter grooved near the 

 tip ; nail decurved, forming a hook ; both mandibles furnished with thin trans- 

 verse lamellae. Nasal groove near the base of the beak ; nostrils oval, lateral, 

 pen-ious. Wings of moderate length, the second quill the longest. Legs 

 moderate; the tibia naked for a short space above the tarsal joint; three 

 toes entirely webbed in front, and one behind free. Sexes nearly alike in 

 plumage (p. 407). 



Anas, Brisson. — Bill about as long as the head, broad, depressed, sides parallel, 

 sometimes partially dilated ; both mandibles furnished on the inner edges with 

 transverse lamellae. Nostrils small, oval, lateral, anterior to the base of the 

 beak. Wings rather long, pointed. Tail wedge-shaped. Legs rather short, 

 placed under the centre of the body; tarsus somewhat rounded; three toes 

 in front, connected by membranes ; hind toe free, without pendent lobe or 

 membrane. The sexes differ in plumage (p. 411). 



Spatula, F. Boie. — Bill much longer thanthehead, compressed at the base, widen- 

 ing towards the end, lamella; projecting conspicuously from the base to near 

 the broadest part. Wing pointed, the first and second quills the longest. 

 Tail short, graduated, of fourteen pointed feathers. Legs very short; hind 

 toe small, free, unlobed (p. 415). 



Dafila, Stephens. — Bill about as long as the head, the edges nearly parallel, but 

 widening a trifle to the end ; lamella; not very strongly defined. Neck long 

 and slender. Wings long and pointed, the first and second quills sub-equal 

 and longest, the rest rapidly graduated. Tail sharply pointed, the central 

 rectrices considerably elongated in the male. Legs rather short; hind toe 

 small; margin of web to anterior toes slightly emarginate (p. 417). 



