171 



CHAPTER VII. 



PALMIPEDES; WEB-FOOTED SERRATED OR TOOTH-BILLED. 

 GEESE; FLOCKS OF HOW MANAGED PLUCKING SINGULAR 



ATTACHMENT SAGACITY COURAGE OF. TREE-GEESE. 



SWANS ; MUSCULAR STRENGTH COURAGE. BLACK SWANS. 



TRADE IN SWAN QUILLS. 



TABLE XXVI. (See vol. i., p. 22.) 



Order 6. PALMIPEDES ( Web-footed). Tribe 1. SERRIROSTRES 

 (or Tooth-billed). Table XXVII. 



WE now come to the last order, consisting of those 

 birds which are evidently calculated for swimming; 

 having their toes connected with a web, extending 

 nearly to the nails. There are, however, some few 

 not classed here, although they are undoubtedly 

 web-footed, for instance, the Avosets and Flamin- 

 goes; but these, as has been already noticed, are not 

 swimmers, their webs being of use only in supporting 

 them, as they tread lightly over marshy grounds. 

 The first genus is that of the Anas, comprising Geese 

 and Ducks, whose beaks all, more or less, partake of 

 the toothed or serrated character, represented in the 

 plate of the Shoveller-Duck's Bill (vol. i., p. 32), for 

 the obvious purpose of feeding in the manner there 

 mentioned. 



Notwithstanding certain points of resemblance, 

 connecting Swans, Geese, and Ducks under one head, 

 there are, nevertheless, some peculiarities in each, 

 fully justifying the various subdivisions adopted by 

 modern naturalists; by whom they have been, 



