PLECTROPTERUS. PLECTROPTERUS. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum subcylindricum, 

 basi tuberculo carneo in- 

 structum, laminato-denta- 

 tuin, obtusum. 



Nares in medio rostri sitee. 



Alec calcaria dua armatae. 



Collum breve. 



Pedes tetradactyli ; digiti an- 



teriores toti palraati ;pollex 



simplex. 



Becik subcylindric, furnished 

 with a fleshy tubercle at its 

 base, its sides dentated 

 in laminae, obtuse. 



Nostrils placed in the middle 

 of the beak. 



Wings armed with spurs. 



Neck short. 



Legs four-toed ; three ante- 

 rior toes entirely webbed ; 

 the hinder toe simple. 



PLECTROPTERUS. Leach MSS. 

 ANAS. Linn., Gmel., Lath., &c. 

 ANSER. Penn. 

 CYGNUS. Cuvier. 



V^UVIER says of this genus that it differs from the 

 true Swans by its form, the height of its legs, and by 

 the tubercle which it bears on the beak ; to which he 

 adds, that the bend of the wing is armed with two 

 strong spurs. There are but two species known ; and 

 of their manners we are ignorant. 



