DUCKS. 67 



western shores, and its handsome red-breasted ally (B. ruficollis) (765) 

 very rarely wanders as far west as Great Britain. The commonest 

 species that visits us is undoubtedly the Brent-Goose (Branta bernicla) 

 (764), which is specially numerous along the east coast and may some- 

 times be seen in almost countless multitudes. The two forms of this 

 bird are exhibited ; the one having the underparts pale whitish-grey, 

 while in the other they are dark grey or brown. Another familiar 

 member of this genus is the large Canada Goose (B. canadensis] (762), 

 which has for more than two centuries been domesticated in this 

 country. 



The Emperor-Goose (Philacte) (766) and the Sandwich Island Goose [Case 41.] 

 (Nesochen) (767) are two somewhat remarkable forms, the latter being a 

 very rare species which inhabits the craters and lava-flows on the 

 hills of the Hawaiian Islands. 



To rather a different group belong the South American Upland-Goose 

 and its allies (Chloephaga) (768-770), the Abyssinian Dwarf-Goose 

 (Cyanocheri] (771), and the Australian Maned Goose (Chenonetta) (772). 

 The Upland Goose is a familiar bird to many, for being a large, hand- 

 some and hardy species, it is frequently kept on ornamental waters in 

 this country. 



The last section of the Anatidee includes the Spur-winged Geese [Case 42.] 

 (Plectropterus), represented by the N.E. African form P.ruppelli (773), 

 characterised by its high frontal knob, and the Muscovy Duck (Cairina 

 moschata] (774) of Tropical South America, with its bare red face 

 and fleshy wattles, frequently kept in a domestic state both in this and 

 other countries. Another remarkable form is the Indian and N. African 

 Black-backed Goose (Sarcidiornis melanonotd) (775), the bill of the male 

 being ornamented with a fleshy comb which is about 2 inches high in 

 the breeding-season. Both these and the Muscovy Ducks (774) nest in 

 hollow trees. 



The White-winged Wood-Duck (Asacornis scutulata] (776) and the [Case 42.] 

 Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea] (777), the only members 

 of their respective genera, are both peculiar to the Indo-Burmese 

 countries. The colouring of the latter is specially remarkable, the 

 delicate pink head and neck being quite unlike that of any other Duck. 

 The Pigmy Geese or Cotton-Teal (Nettopus) (778-780) are all natives 

 of the Old World, and several species representing these handsome little 

 birds are exhibited. The lovely Summer-Duck (782) of N. America, and 

 the still more splendid Mandarin-Duck (781) from N.E. Asia and Japan, 

 constitute the genus MX. With the full-plumaged male of the former 

 will be found another example in complete eclipse plumage like that of 

 the female. 



The Black-and-White Goose (Anseranus semipalmatus) (783) is the 



F 2 



