102 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



ORDER ANSERES. THE LA.MELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS. 



CHABACTEBS. Lamellirostral swimming birds, with straight bills, short legs (always 

 shorter than the wing), the tibiae usually completely feathered, and scarcely free from the 

 body ; hallux well developed, though usually small, never absent, Reproduction prascocial. 

 and youngptilopaedic; eggs numerous and unmarked, with a hard, usually very smooth, 

 shell. 



Bill flattened terminally, and provided at the tip with a more or less hooked nail or 

 "unguis", and along the edges with distinct vertical lamellae or strainers (more tooth-like 

 in the subfamily Mergince). 



The Order Anseres is composed mainly of a single family (Anat- 

 idce), 1 which, however, includes very numerous genera and species. 

 The order is represented in every portion of the globe, but most 

 numerously in the northern hemisphere. It is allied most nearly 

 to the orders Phcenieopteri ( Flamingoes ) and Palamedem 

 (Screamers), the former Tropicopolitan, the latter confined to 

 the central portion of the Neotropical Region. 



Extralimital families are (1) Anserantidas (Semipalmated Geese), and (2) Cereopsidce 

 (Cape Barren Geese), both peculiar to Australia. 



