CHAPTER VI 



THE DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



Order— ANSERES 



The Ducks, Geese, and Swans form a well-defined order of birds, 

 which appear to be related on the one hand to the Totipalmate birds 

 and Storks, and on the other, some believe, to the birds of prey. 



All are aquatic in their habits, short-legged and web-footed, 

 and all have very large, thick, fleshy tongues. 



Unlike the Totipalmate birds and Storks, their nestlings leave 

 the egg in a very forward state, so that they can run and swim almost 

 immediately after hatching. 



The " Saw-billed " Ducks are remarkable for the fact that the 

 edges of the beak are armed with sharp, conical, horny, tooth-like 

 spines, admirably adapted for the capture of the slippery fish on which 

 these birds live. 



The Goosander (Plate V. fig. 2) and the Smew (Plate V. fig. 5) 

 are two very typical samples of Ducks of this type, and both are 

 common British birds. In North America a Goosander is found 

 which differs but little from the British species. 



The two next species possess a beak of more normal type, in so 

 far as its armature is concerned ; in its general shape, however, this 

 beak is peculiar. These are the Velvet Scoter and the Eider-duck. 



The Velvet Scoter (Plate V. fig. 7) is a strictly marine species, 

 which is not infrequently met with along the British coast in autumn 

 and winter. It feeds largely on shell-fish, which it obtains by diving. 

 In colour it is of a rich velvety black, relieved only by a white patch 

 on the head and wing and the brilliant orange of the beak and legs. 



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