GEESE ; SWANS ; DUCKS. 



509 



Common Goose, but has much longer wings ; and it traverses 

 greater distances in its migrations. Its breeding-places are in 



FIG. 290. BRENT GOOSE. 



the far north ; but it migrates for the winter as low down as 

 the middle of France, and has been known (when the season 

 has been very severe) to attack the corn-fields in such numbers, 

 as to produce the most serious injury. Nearly allied to this is 

 the Barnacle Goose; of whose origin from the Barnacles 

 attached to floating timber, &c., such strange stories are told by 

 the older naturalists. The Swans are more purely aquatic in 

 their habits; but their diet consists chiefly of the roots of 

 aquatic plants, and other vegetable matter, which they obtain 

 by means of their long necks. They are distributed through all 

 parts of the world ; and are remarkable for their graceful appear- 

 ance upon the water, which is familiar to every one. The Ducks 

 are destined to feed in great part upon animal matter, such as 

 insects and mollusks ; as well as upon vegetables and grains. 

 They are inhabitants of various parts of the world, and are 

 generally seen upon the lakes and rivers of the interior, though 

 they occasionally resort to the sea-shore. Ducks can all swim 

 and dive with facility ; they can all fly well ; and they can all 

 walk, though frequently with difficulty. The number of species 

 is very numerous ; and they may be arranged under two sub- 

 divisions, according to their habits, and the peculiarities of 

 structure which correspond to them. The Ducks of the first 

 section live for the most part inland, and frequent shallow 



