146 ANSERINJE. ANSER. 



of plants by immersing the head and neck. The nest, 

 composed of grass and other herbage, is placed in marshes 

 or on islands ; the eggs numerous, elliptical, and white, 

 or grey. The male remains with the female and young. 

 The plumage is the same in both sexes, and in this re- 

 spect the young differ little from the adults. Their flesh 

 is savoury, but not easily digestible. 



GENUS CXX. ANSER. GOOSE. 



Birds of large size, having the body remarkably full, 

 ovate, rather higher than broad ; the neck long and slender ; 

 the head rather small, oblong, arched above, compressed. 

 Bill as long as the head, stout, straight, subconical, of much 

 greater height than breadth at the base, narrowed toward 

 the end, where it is somewhat depressed, and broadly 

 rounded ; upper mandible with the ridge broad and flattened 

 at the base, then convex, the dorsal line declinate and 

 straight to near the unguis, which is round, very convex, de- 

 curved, and strong, the edges arched, denticulated with the 

 triangular outer ends of the lamellae, which appear from 

 without. Mouth of moderate width ; its roof concave, with 

 a medial row of tubercles, one or two series on each side, 

 then a series of small transverse ridges, a longitudinal 

 groove, and a marginal series of lamellae ; tongue fleshy, 

 thick, with a median groove, basal and lateral acute horny 

 papillae, and thin, horny, rounded tip ; oesophagus long, nar- 

 row, enlarged below ; stomach an extremely developed, 

 oblique, transversely elliptical gizzard, with excessively thick 

 muscles, and roundish, concave grinding plates ; intestine 

 long, rather narrow ; cceca long. Inferior larynx compressed. 

 Nostrils moderate, oblong, submedial. Eyes small, eyelids 

 feathered. Aperture of ear rather small. Legs moderate, 

 strong, placed well forward ; tibia bare for a very short space ; 

 tarsus moderately compressed, reticulate ; hind toe very 

 small, elevated, thick beneath ; anterior toes rather long, 

 scutellate, at the base scaly. Membranes full ; claws short, 

 arched, rather compressed, obtuse. Plumage full, firm, un- 

 less on the head and neck ; feathers of the head very small 



