DUCKS. 



67 



regular visitor, being more numerous along our western shores, and its 

 handsome red-breasted ally (B. ruficollis] (765) very rarely wanders as 

 far west as Great Britain. The commonest species that visits us is 

 undoubtedly the Brent-Goose (Branta bernicla] (764), which is specially 

 numerous along the east coast and may sometimes be seen in almost 

 countless multitudes. The two forms of this bird are exhibited ; the one 

 having the underparts pale whitish-grey, while in the other they are dark 

 grey or brown. Another familiar member of this genus is the large 

 Canada Goose (B. canadensis) (762), which has for more than two 

 centuries been domesticated in this country. 



The Emperor-Goose (Philacte) (766) and the Sandwich Island Goose [Case 41.] 

 (Nesocheri) (767) are two somewhat remarkable forms, the latter being a 

 very rare species which inhabits the craters and lava-flows on the 

 hills of the Hawaiian Islands. 



To rather a different group belong the South American Upland-Goose 

 and its allies (Chloephaga) (768-770), the Abyssinian Dwarf-Goose 

 (Cyanochen) (771), and the Australian Maned Goose (Chenonetta) (772). 

 The Upland Goose is a familiar bird to many, for being a large, hand- 

 some and hardy species, it is frequently kept on ornamental waters in 

 this country. 



The last section of the Anatidae includes the Spur- winged Geese [Case 42.] 

 (Plectropterus), represented by the N.E. African form P.ruppelli (773), 

 characterised" by its high frontal knob, and the Muscovy Duck (Cairina 

 moschata] (774) of Tropical South America, with its bare red face 

 and fleshy wattles, frequently kept in a domestic state both in this and 

 other countries. Another remarkable form is the Indian and N. African 

 Black-backed Goose (Sarcidiornis melanonota) (775), the bill of the male 

 being ornamented with a fleshy comb which is about 2 inches high in 

 the breeding-season. Both these and the Muscovy Ducks (774) nest in 

 hollow trees. 



The White-winged Wood-Duck (Asacornis scutulatd) (776) and the [Case 42.] 

 Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) (777), the only members 

 of their respective genera, are both peculiar to the Indo-Burmese 

 countries. The colouring of the latter is specially remarkable, the 

 delicate pink head and neck being quite unlike that of any other Duck. 

 The Pigmy Geese or Cotton-Teal (Nettopus) (778-780) are all natives 

 of the Old World, and several species representing these handsome little 

 birds are exhibited. The lovely Summer-Duck (782) of N. America, and 

 the still more splendid Mandarin-Duck (781) from N.E. Asia and Japan, 

 constitute the genus dEx. With the full-plumaged male of the former 

 will be found another example in complete " eclipse-plumage " like that 

 of the female. 



The Black-and-White Goose (Anseranas semipalmatus] (783) is the 



