GEESr 391 



wounds. Their flight is easy, and performed by slow flappings of 

 their wings ; and some of them have the faculty of perching, or 

 even of roosting, upon trees. Most of the species are conspicuous 

 on account of the glowing green colour of their wings and the 

 varied tints of their plumage. They walk well, and are gene- 

 rally found in the neighbourhood of extensive marshes, where, on 

 account of the length of their legs, they seem to prefer walking- 

 to swimming. The best-known species — 



The Semi-palmated Goose {Aiiseraniis melaiiolencus), is peculiar to 

 Australia. " When New South Wales was first colonized, this fine species 

 was very abundant on the Hawkesbury ; it is, however, no longer a denizen of 

 that river, nor of any of the streams within the colony, affording another proof 

 that the progress of civilization invariably leads to the gradual extirpation of 

 the more conspicuous of the natural productions of the countries over which 

 it extends its sway. It is still abundant in such parts of the Port Philip dis- 

 trict as are unlocated by the settler, and as we progress northwards, gradually 

 becomes more numerous until we reach the ri\-ers and lagoons which empty 

 themselves into Torres Straits. Here it occurs in such countless multitudes 

 that it forms one of the chief articles of the food of the aborigines. So dense 

 are the flocks that occur in the northern parts of the country, that the natives 

 are enabled to procure multitudes of them by spearing : they only spear them 

 when flying, and always crouch down when they see a flight of them approach- 

 ing; the geese, however, know their enemies so well, that they immediately 

 turn upon seeing a native rise and put his spear into the throwing-stick.'' — 

 Gould, "Birds of Australia:' 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Fox-Goose {Che?ialopcx* jnbati/s), so called, apparently, on account 

 of the tawny colour of many parts of its plumage. 



S7ib-F amily III. 

 THE TRUE GEESE. ANSERIN.'E. 



General Characteristics. — Bill as long as or shorter than the head, the culmen 

 much elevated at the base, and gradually sloping to the tip, which is armed with a 

 large broad nail, the sides compressed, and the marginal lamince more or less appa- 

 rent ; the wings lengthened ; the tarsi longer than the middle toe, and the knee 

 naked ; the toes short and strongly webbed, with the hind toe short, elevated, and 

 scarcely lobed. 



These birds seek the higher latitudes during the summer 

 months, and as the winter appears, they return to the more tem- 

 perate parts of Europe, Asia, and America. 



* xhv> chen, a ^oose; aXuirt]^, alopex, a fox. 



