166 AVES. 



This is the species, when domesticated, that forms the ornament of our ponds 

 and grounds. Its elegance of form, graceful movements, and snow-white 

 plumage have rendered it the emblem of innocence and beauty. It feeds 

 both on fish and vegetables, flies extremely high and with great swiftness, 

 using its wings, which are a powerful weapon, in striking its enemies when 

 attacked. It breeds among the reeds in ponds, and lays six or eight eggs of a 

 greenish-grey. 



An. cygnus, Gm. (The black-billed Swan.) Bill black with a yellow base; 

 the body white, tinged with a yellowish grey; when young, all grey. 



An. plutonia, Sh. (The Black Swan) has been lately discovered in New 

 Holland ; it is the size of the common species, but its carriage is less graceful 

 and elegant ; it is all black, the primary quills excepted, which are white, and 

 the bill with the naked skin on its base, which is red. 



ANSER, Brisson. 



Geese have a moderate or short bill, narrower before than behind, and 

 higher than wide at base; their legs, being longer than those of the ducks, and 

 placed nearer the centre of the body, increase their facility in walking. Several 

 of them feed on seeds and plants. There is no inflation at the root of the 

 trachea, nor is there any curve in that organ in any of the species known. 



GEESE, properly so called. 



Have a bill as long as their head ; the ends of the lamella* extend to its 

 edges, appearing like pointed teeth. 



An. anser, Lin. (The Common Goose), which has acquired all sorts of 

 colours in our poultry-yards, originates from a wild species that is grey, with a 

 brown mantle undulated with grey and an orange-coloured beak, the Ans. 

 cinereus, Meyer. 



An. hyperborea, Gm. (The Snow-Goose.) White ; feet and bill red ; tips 

 of the wing-quills black. It sometimes wanders into the temperate parts of 

 Europe during the prevalence of heavy gales in winter. The young bird is 

 more or less grey. 



BERNACLES 



Are distinguished from the common Geese by a shorter and slenderer bill, 

 the edges of which conceal the extremities of the laminae. 



An. bernicla, Gm. (The Brant.) The head, neck, and quills of the wings 

 are black, the mantle a brown-grey ; a spot on each side of the upper part 

 of the neck, and the under part of the tail, white ; the bill black, and feet 

 brown. 



An. Mgyptiaca, Gm. (The Egyptian Goose), remarkable for the lustre of its 

 colours and the small spur attached to its wings, also belongs to this subgenus; 

 it is sometimes domesticated, but always retains a propensity to return to its 

 wild state. It is the Chenalopex or Fox-Goose, held in veneration among the 

 ancient Egyptians on account of its attachment to its young. 



ANAS, Meyer. 

 Ducks, properly so called, have the bill bruadur at base than it is high, and 



