xviii SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS 
ORDER ANSERES 
Tarsus about length of femur, reticulate at back and generally in front 
Bill straight, always with distinct nail at tip of upper mandible. Young 
covered with down, and able to run or swim in a few hours after hatching. 
‘ FAMILY ANATID 
' (Ducks, GEESE,” SWANS, ETC.) 
Bill thick, broad, high at the base, covered with a thin membranous skin 
and ending in a nail-like horny tip; edges of the mandibles cut into thin 
parallel ridges, or toothed ; wings moderate; legs placed not very far be- 
hind ;; feet, four-toed, palmated ; hind toe free, placed high on the tarsus, 
Food, grass and aquatic weeds, worms, insects, molluscs, and small fish. 
SUB-FAMILY ANSERINZ 
77. ANSER (Geese). Bill nearly long as head, elevated and covered with 
cere or skin at base; conspicuous nail at tip; under mandible 
smaller than upper; nostrils lateral, near middle of bill; tail of 
sixteen feathers ; legs under centre of body; hind toe free, articu- 
lated upon tarsus. Page 176 
78. BERNICLA (Brent and Bernicle Geese). Bill shorter than head, higher 
than broad at base; culmen slightly convex, outline of lower man- 
dible decidedly so, leaving elliptical space displaying lamelle ; 
nostrils sub-basal; neck feathers less furrowed than in Anser; tail 
short, rounded; tibia feathered to joint; hind toe short and ele- 
vated. Page 180 
79. Cycnus (Swans). Bill of equal length throughout, furnished with 
knob at base; nostrils medial; legs short; neck exceedingly long. 
Page 181 
SUB-FAMILY ANATIDZ 
Bill of equal width throughout, or broader at the top than at the base, of 
about the same width as the head ; legs short, placed rather behin.1 the middle 
of the body ; hind toe without a pendent membrane ; tarsi somewhat round. 
80. Taporna (Sheldrake). Bill with an elevated tubercle at the base, 
depressed in the middle; nostrils large, pervious; lower portion 
of tarsus in front with a row of transverse scutelle. Page 184 
81. Anas (Mallard, Gadwall). Bill long as head, broad, depressed, sides 
parallel, sometimes partially dilated, both mandibles with transverse 
jamelle on inner edges; nostrils small, oval, lateral, anterior to 
base of bill; wings rather long, pointed; tail wedge-shaped ; legs 
rather short; hind toe without lobe. Sexes differ in plumage. 
Page 185 
82. SPATULA (Shoveller). Bill much longer than head, widening towards 
end, lamelle projecting conspicuously ; no soft membrane on sides 
of bill towards tip; wing pointed, first and second quills longest; 
tail short, graduated; legs very short. Page 189 
83. DAFILA (Pintail), Bill long as head, edges nearly parallel, widening a 
little to end, lamelle not strongly defined; neck long, slender; tail 
sharply pointed, central rectrices considerably elongated in male; 
margin of web to anterior toes slightly emarginate. Page 190 
84. QUERQUEDULA (Teal). Bill longas head, lamella exposed along pro- 
jecting edge of upper mandible; tail of sixteen feathers, short and 
rounded; hind toe very small, outer shorter than third, centre 
rather long ; interdigital membrane emarginate. Page 91 
