144 ANSERINE. 



oesophagus narrow ; stomach an extremely muscular giz- 

 zard, with a dense epithelium, having two grinding plates ; 

 intestine long, rather wide, with two long, moderately 

 wide co3ca. Trachea in the females uniform, but in the 

 males with diversiform enlargements at its lower extre- 

 mity ; the contractor muscles, which are large, give off 

 two slips to the clavicles, and end in two others which go 

 to the sternum, there being no inferior laryngeal muscles. 

 Eyes and apertures of ears generally small. Feathers 

 ovate or oblong, curved ; wings convex ; tail short. Feet 

 with four toes, the anterior rather long and webbed, the 

 hind toe small and free ; claws generally small. 



Birds of this order occur in all parts of the globe. 

 Among the Swimming Birds they are apparently analo- 

 gous to the Radrices among the land birds, and next to 

 them they are the most directly useful to man. They 

 feed on vegetable substances, but some also on fishes, and 

 many on mollusca and insects. The nest is rude, and 

 usually placed on the ground ; the eggs numerous, and 

 white or light-coloured, without spots. The young, 

 covered with stiffish down, are able to run, swim, and 

 dive, immediately after exclusion, and are led about 

 by their mother, who evinces the greatest anxiety for 

 their safety. Of the species, which are very numerous, 

 forty have been met with in Britain. The males are 

 always larger than the females. 



FAMILY XLI. ANSERINE. ANSERINE 

 BIRDS, OR GEESE. 



These are the largest birds of the order. They have 

 the body ovate or elliptical, very large and full, of nearly 

 equal height and breadth ; the neck long, and rather 



