378 Synopsis of the Birds 



temperate regions : very rare and accidental in the United 

 States. 



320. Anser bernicla, Nob. Blackish-ash ; head neck and 

 breast, black ; a white patch each side of the neck ; beneath 

 whitish ; bill and feet black ; tail of sixteen feathers. 



The Brant, Anas bernicla, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 131. 

 pi. 72- jig. 1. Anser torquatus, Frisch Vieill. 



Inhabits the Arctic regions, migratory in both continents : 

 very common and numerous in the middle states at its double 

 passage, when great havoc is made among them. 



72. CYGNUS. 



Anas, L. Gin. Lath. III. Temm. Ranz. Anser, Briss. 

 Cygnus, Bechst. Cuv. Vieill. Brehm Stephens Boie. Cygne, 

 Temm. 



Bill at base higher than broad, gibbous, subcylindric 

 above, of equal breadth throughout, obtuse ; teeth lamelli- 

 form ; upper mandible unguiculated and curved at tip ; 

 lower shorter, narrower, covered by the margins of the 

 upper, flattened : nostrils medial, oval, open, pervious, cover- 

 ed b}' a membrane : tongue thick, fleshy, broad, fimbriated on 

 the sides, obtuse. Head small, lora naked : neck exceed- 

 ingly long, much longer than the body, slender; body much 

 compressed, elegantly shaped. Feet placed far back, very 

 short, stout, large ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; mid- 

 dle toe longest, outer longer than the inner, webs full, entire, 

 very broad ; hind toe equal to a phalanx of the middle, sim- 

 ple, touching the ground merely at tip. Wings very long, 

 when folded, the primaries hardly reach beyond the seconda- 

 ries ; first and fourth primaries equal ; second and third 

 longest. Tail cuneiform, of numerous feathers. 



Female somewhat smaller, perfectly similar to the male. 

 Young differing from the adult for two or three years. Moult 

 simple, annual, but protracted. Plumage excessively close 



