THE WORLD'S BIBDS. oj 



quills (the speculum) is a common ornament. Sexes 

 often very different, in which case the male usually 

 — not in South American or Australasian species — 

 assumes a plumage more or less resembling that 

 of the female for several weeks after breeding. In 

 moulting, all the quills are usually shed at once. 

 The young resemble the adult female, or have a 

 dress of their own. 



Young. — Very active, feeding themselves, and clad in 

 furry-looking down, which is either self-coloured or 

 pied, varying much in different groups. The wing- 

 feathers do not develop till the bird is nearly full 

 sized. 



Nest.— A rude collection of vegetable substances, usually 

 lined with the female's own down. It is commonly 

 placed on the ground, sometimes in a burrow, a 

 hole of a tree or rock, or the old nest of some other 

 bird. 



Eggs.— Usually several (never less than two) ; without 

 spots, white or pale in hue. 



Incubation. — From three to six weeks. 



Courtship. — Variable ; generally there is bowing or 

 nodding of the head, and more or less raising of the 

 elbows, but the wings are never drooped. 



Food. — They are very omnivorous birds, most of them 

 subsisting on small forms of animal life, and on 

 land-and-water herbage, grain, etc. Some (Mer- 

 gansers) are almost purely animal (fish) feeders, 

 while the Geese are mainly vegetarian. 



Gait.— A swaying walk or " waddle " ; but many can 

 go far and run very well ; the diving species are 

 usually the most awkward on foot. They all swim 

 and most dive, some particularly well. 



Flight. — Heavy and direct, by continued beats of the 

 wings ; the neck and legs are outstretched. The 

 large species fly with slower strokes than the small 

 ones. Two species are flightless, or nearly so 



