32 



THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



the Loggerhead (Tachyeres cinereus) and the Auck- 

 land Island Teal {Nesonetta aucklandica). 



Note. — Not usually musical, a quack, croak, or cackle ; 

 they hiss when enraged in many cases. The male 

 often has a much weaker note than the female.- 



Disposition and Habits. — Usually peaceable and fairly 

 intelligent ; very wary if persecuted. In fighting 

 they use both wings and bill. 



Economic Qualities. — All appear to be edible, and 

 many are excellent food, some being reputed as 

 great delicacies. Their down and feathers are also 

 valuable. 



Captivity. — They bear captivity very well and four 

 species are completely domesticated, the Common 

 Duck (Anas boscas), Muscovy Duck (Cairina 

 moschata), Chinese Goose [Cygnopsis cygnoides) and 

 Common Goose {Anser ferns), while several other 

 species of the family are commonly kept and bred 

 for ornament, such as the Mute Swan [Cygnus olor). 



Distribution and Important Species. — Birds of this 

 family, which numbers about two hundred 

 species, are found everywhere, but most nume- 

 rously in temperate and cold climates ; they are 

 migratory in many cases. They usually affect open 

 country, and the majority prefer fresh water. Some 

 of the geese, however, very rarely swim at all. 



The ordinary division into Swans, Geese, Ducks, 

 and Mergansers, seems scarcely tenable, though 

 convenient, as the relationships of all these groups 

 are very close. The Magpie Goose of Australia 

 (Anser anas melanoleticus), however, seems to de- 

 serve to rank as a sub- family by itself, as it differs 

 from all the rest in having its front toes only 

 webbed at the base, and the hind-toe well de- 

 veloped and resting on the ground, while it also 

 moults its quills gradually, not all at once like 

 the rest. The most widely familiar species is the 



