146 ANATID^l. 



THE fifth and last Order of Birds, the Natatores, or 

 Swimmers, remains now to be considered. A large por- 

 tion of these are remarkable for their powers of swimming 

 and diving ; they are commonly called Water Fowl, and 

 as an Order have frequently been designated Palmipedes, 

 in reference to their webljed feet. From the geographical 

 position, extent, and varied character of the British Is- 

 lands, the species of this Order are very numerous, com- 

 prehending nearly one-third of the whole number of our 

 British Birds. The first family of this Order, the Ana- 

 tidae, is also extensive, including the Geese, Swans, Ducks, 

 and Mergansers. The first three portions were formerly 

 considered as belonging but to one genus, Anas; and hence 

 the family name Anatidae : modern systematic authors 

 have found it more convenient, as well as desirable, to 

 divide them into smaller groups, which are known to be 

 distinct in their characters and habits, and these will be 

 hereafter referred to. Many of the species are of great 

 interest and value. 



Under the term Wild Goose, four or five species are 

 frequently included, and the Grey-lag Goose, the first on 

 our list, has not always been so well defined or repre- 

 sented as to exhibit the true specific characters that dis- 

 tinguish it from the Bean Goose and White-fronted 

 Goose, with which the Grey-lag Goose is the most fre- 

 quently confounded. The present species is considered to 

 be the origin from which our valuable domestic race is 

 derived; and to show the aptitude of the wild bird to 

 this purpose, I may mention that the Zoological Society 

 of London, possessing a pinioned wild Grey-lag Gander, 

 which had never associated with either Bean Goose or 

 White-fronted Goose, though both were kept on the same 

 water with him, a domestic Goose selected in the London 

 market, from the circumstance of her exhibiting in her 



