THE GEESE. 



193 



In the first group, the GEESE, the hind-toe is simple, and the bill is deep, with a very conspicuous 

 " nail " at the end. Many of the Geese are very remarkable in form, especially the Dwarf Geese 

 (Nettapus}, which do not exceed a foot in length, and are found in Africa, India, and Australia. 

 Another curious bird is the Cereopsis Goose (Cereopsis novce hollandict) of Australia, which used to 

 be plentiful in the islands of Bass's Strait, but is fast becoming rarer, owing to its unwillingness to 

 fly. The earlier voyagers recount their having killed numbers of these birds with sticks, and the 

 flight of the Cereopsis Goose is described as being remarkably heavy, and performed with difficulty. 

 Its nearest ally, the extinct Goose of New Zealand (Cnemiornis), appears to have been altogether 

 incapable of flight. In captivity the disposition of the male bird is most pugnacious, and it is 



C7 



SUMMER OR WOOD DUCK. 



necessai-y to keep them apart from other birds, as they will attack and kill any bird within their reach, 

 even species as large as Cranes. In their fighting propensities they resemble the Spur- winged Geese 

 (Plectropterus) of Africa, which have a warty excrescence on the face when adult, and powerful spurs 

 on the wings. The majority of the Geese, however, remain in the genera Anser and Brenthus. Of 

 the former genus several species visit England, passing to the extreme north to breed. From the 

 Grey or Wild Goose (Anser anser, Linnreus) the Domestic Goose is supposed to be descended. The 

 Sea Geese (Brenthus) are smaller birds and of more compact build, as well as rather more variegated 

 plumage, the Red-breasted Goose (B. ruficollis) being a really handsome bird. The Sea Geese resort to 

 the most northern regions to breed, and the Brent Goose (Brenthus bernicla) was found by Captain 

 Feilden nesting on the shores of the Polar basin. It is also the most common species in England in 

 winter, occurring in large numbers on some of the tidal harbours and estuaries. Several species of 

 Brent Geese occur in South America, and are very handsome birds, the males and females differing 

 conspicuously in plumage. 



