352 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Genus ANSERANAS, Lesson. 



This genus, like that of Cereopsis, contains but a single 

 species, and is peculiar to Australia. 



Sp. 579. ANSERANAS MELANOLEUCA. 



Semipalmated Goose. 



Anas melanoleuca. Lath. lud. Orn., Supp. p. Ixix. 



Black and White Goose, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 344. 



Anas semipalmata, Lath. Lid. Orn., Supp. p. Ixix. 



Semipalmated Goose, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 347, pl. 139. 



Anseranas melanoleuca, Less. Man. d'Orn., torn. ii. p. 418. 



Choristopus semipalmatus, Eyton, Mon. Anat., p. 79. 



Anseranas melanoleuca, List of Birds in Brit. Mus., part iii. p. 125. 



Newal-gang, Aborigines of New South Wales. 



Anseranas melanoleuca, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii. 

 pl. 2. 



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, or perhaps of any of the 

 streams within the colony, and thus affords another instance 

 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, 

 however, abundant as we progress northwards, and gradually 

 becomes more numerous until we reach the rivers 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, and was of the utmost 

 value to Leichardt and his party, during their adventurous 

 journey from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, as shown 

 in numerous parts of his interesting account of the expe- 

 dition. So dense are the flocks that occur in the northern 

 parts of the country, that the natives are enabled to procure 



