BIRDS. 403 



Beiore I go to tlie third general division of water-fowls, it 

 may not be improper to observe, tliat there is one species of 

 round-billed water-fowl that does not properly lie within any of 

 tlie former distributions. This is the Gooseander ;* a bird with 

 the body and wings shaped like those of the penguin kind, but 

 with legs not hid in the belly. It may be distinguished from all 

 others by its bill, which is round, hooked at the point, and 

 toothed, both upper and under chap, like a saw. Its colours are 

 various and beautiful ; however, its manners and appetites en- 

 tirely resemble those of the diver. It feeds upon fish, for which 

 it dives ; and is said to build its nest upon trees, like the heron 

 and the cormorant. It seems to form the shade between the 

 penguin and the goose kind ; having a round bill like the one; 

 and unembarrassed legs, like the other. In the shape of the 

 head, neck, and body, it resembles them both. 



CHAP. IX. 



OF mUDS OF THE GOOSE KIND, PUOPEllLY SO CALLKU. 



fiiK Swan, the Goose, and the Duck, are leaders of a num- 

 frous, useful, and beautiful tribe of birds, that we have reclaimed 

 from a state of nature, and have taught to live in dependence 

 about us. To describe any of these, would be as superfluous as 

 delinitions usually are when given of things with which we are 

 already well acquainted. There are few that have not had op- 

 portunities of seeing them, and whose ideas would not anticipate 

 our description. J3ut, though nothing be so easy as to distin- 

 guisli these in general from e;ich other, yet the largest of the 

 duck kind approach the goose so nearly, tliat it may be proper 

 to mark the distinctions. 



'i'hc marks of the goose are, a bigger body, large wings, a 

 longer neck, a white ring above the rump, a bill thicker at the 

 base, slenderer towards the tip, with shorter legs placed more 

 forward on the body. They both have a waddling waii^ ; but 

 the duck from the position of its legs, has it in a greater degree. 



« Tlii^ is tin- largest of tin- Auk kiml, woighini,' about l pound*. 



