WATER-FOWL. 213 



in those colder climates, than in the warmer regions near the lin& 

 The quantity of oil which abound in their bodies, serves as a defence 

 against cold, and preserves them in vigour against its severity ; but 

 the same provision of oil is rather detrimental in warm countries, as 

 it turns rancid, and many of them die of disorders which arise from 

 its putrefaction. In general, however, water-fowl can be properlv 

 said to be of no climate ; the element upon which they live, being 

 their proper residence. They necessarily spend a few months of sum- 

 mer upon land, to bring up their young ; but the rest of their time is pro- 

 bably consumed in their migrations, or near some unknown coasts, . 

 where tneir provision of fish is found in the greatest abundance. 



Before I go to the third general division of water-fowls, it may not 

 be improper to observe, that there is one species of round-billed water- 

 fowl, that does not properly lie within any of the former distributions 

 This is the Gooseander ; a bird with the body and wing shaped like 

 those of ihe penguin kind, but with legs not hid in the belly. It may 

 be distinguished from all others by its bill, which is round, hooked at 

 the point, and toothed, both upper and under chap, like a saw. Its 

 colours are various and beautiful : however, its manners and appetites 

 entirely resemble those of the diver. It feeds upon fish, for which it 

 dives ; and is said to build its nest upon trees, like the heron and the 

 cormorant. It seems to form the shade between the penguin and the 

 goose kinds ; having a round bill like the one, and unembarrassed 

 legs, like tne other. In the shape of the head, neck, and body, it 

 resembles tMem both. 



CHAPTER IX. 



OF BIRDS OF THE GOOSE KIND, PROPERLY SO CALLED. 



THE Swan, the Goose, and the Duck, are leaders of a numerous, 

 useful, and beautiful tribe of birds, that we have reclaimed from a 

 state of nature, and have taught to live in dependence about us. To 

 describe any of these would be as superfluous as definitions usually 

 are when given of things with which we are already well acquainted. 

 There are few that have not had opportunities of seeing them, and 

 whose ideas would not anticipate our description. But, though no- 

 thing be so easy as to distinguish these in general from each other, 

 yet the largest of the duck kind approach the goose so nearly, that i< 

 may be proper to mark the distinctions. 



The marks of the goose are, a bigger body, large wings, a longei 

 neck, a white ring about the rump, a bill thicker at the base, slenderer 

 towards the tip, with shorter legs, placed forward on the body. They 

 both have a waddling walk; but the duck, from the position of its 

 legs, has it in a greater degree. By these marks, these similar tribes 

 may be known asunder; and 'hough the duck should b*> found to 



