(Plate XXVIIL) 
Fig. f. The Mute Swan (Cygnzs olor) is a native 
of Northern Europe, but is now seen in a semi- 
domesticated state on all rivers and ornamental waters. 
It is a very fine bird, measuring nearly five feet in 
length, and weighing over twenty pounds. Its plu- 
mage is pure white, the beak bright red, the nostrils, 
the lower part of the beak, the protuberances before 
the forehead, and the legs are black. 
Fig. g. The Wild Swan (Cygnus musicus) 
resembles the last species in size and form, but the 
beak is yellow, without protuberances, and the bare 
space between the beak and eyes is also yellow. It 
is sometimes called the Whistling Swan on account 
of the noise produced by the wings during flight, 
and the trumpet-like tone emitted from the wind- 
pipe, which forms several convolutions behind the 
breastbone. It is a native of the North of Europe, 
and migrates southwards during the winter. 
In the Geese (Anser) the beak is higher than 
broad, and ends above and below in aconvex point 
with sharp edges. The neck is moderately long and 
slender, the plumage soft and the legs strong. They 
migrate southwards during severe weather. 
Fig. h. The Grey Goose (Anser cinereus) 
considered to be the wild species from which our 
domestic goose is derived. The beak is orange, the 
naked eyelids and the legs flesh-coloured, and the 
plumage always grey, with the back brown, varied 
with pale grey. It inhabits the temperate parts of 
Europe and Asia. 
(Plate XXIX.) 
Fig. a. The Bean Goose (Auser segetum) has 
a black beak, orange-coloured in the middle, and 
long wings, extending beyond the tip of the tail. It 
is found in the north of Europe, Asia and North 
America, and migrates to the south in vast flocks 
on the approach of cold weather. 
Fig. b. The Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) is 
as large as a common duck. It prefers the neigh- 
bourhood of the sea, and only visits fresh water 
during its migrations. The legs are longer than in 
the other geese, and the plumage is dark ashy grey, 
with the exception of the white belly, and a white 
crescent-shaped mark on each side of the neck; the 
head, neck and throat are black. 
In the Ducks (Azas) the*beak is broad and 
notched, the wings of moderate size, the tail short 
and rounded, and the legs placed far backward, 
which makes their gait clumsy and waddling, though 
they swim, dive, and fly well. They are much valued 
for their flesh and feathers. 
Fig. c. The Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima) 
has the “softest plumage of all, and the elastic down 
is much used for bedding. The full-grown male 
(fig. c, a) is white and Blac in large masses of 
colour, but the female (fig. c, b) is dark brownish 
black. It is almost exclusively confined to the ex- 
treme north of Europe, Asia, and North America, 
and is only found on the shores of the sea. 
Fig. d. The Harlequin Duck (Fudzeula histrionica) 
is very beautifully coloured. The male is violet- 
black, spotted with white, and has two white bands 
on the neck, while the female is of a rusty red. It 
is found in many parts of the northern hemisphere. 
Fig. e. The Velvet Scoter (Ozdemza fusca) is 
also an inhabitant of the circumpolar regions, but 
migrates southwards in winter, as far as the Swiss 
lakes. Its plumage is plainly coloured, but is almost 
as soft and valuable as eider-down. 
Fig. f. The Wild Duck (Axas boschas) re- 
sembles the tame duck in form and colour, but is 
smaller and more slender. The male assumes _ his 
finest plumage between November and May. The 
head and neck are greenish-black with a metallic 
lustre, the breast, belly and thighs are light grey, 
the upper part of the back dark brown, and the 
wings grey, marked with bright blue. The female 
is of a rusty yellowish-brown colour, with blackish- 
brown spots, and likewise exhibits the blue mark 
on the wings. The wild duck is a shy and wary bird. 
Fig. g. The Common Shieldrake (Zadorna 
vulpanser) is larger than the tame duck and has 
rather longer legs. In the male the head and neck 
are shining black , with a large mark on the wings 
which is green in front and rusty-red behind; the 
beak is red, the legs flesh-coloured and the greater 
part of the rest of the body is brown and_ black 
above, and white beneath. The female is similarly 
coloured but duller. It frequents the sea-coasts in 
the temperate parts of Europe and Asia, and gener- 
ally makes its nest in burrows in the ground, some- 
times utilizing those of the fox and badger. 
Fig. h. The Pintail Duck (Azas acuta) is fre- 
quently seen on ornamental waters. The male in 
full plumage is black and white above, and white 
beneath, the head is dark brown, the mark on the 
wings coppery-red, bordered by rusty red bands, 
and the middle tail-feathers are black and very long. 
The female is smaller and inconspicuously coloured. 
This bird inhabits the northern parts of Europe, 
Asia and America, but also breeds in Central Europe. 
(Plate XXX.) 
In the genus Mergus the beak is very narrow 
and raised; it is hooked, and furnished with sharp 
notches on the edges. These birds inhabit the 
northern parts of both hemispheres, but migrate south- 
wards in winter. 
Fig. a. The Goosander (Mergus merganser) is 
an excellent swimmer and diver. The male in full 
plumage has the head, the upper part of the neck, 
and the shoulders black with a green metallic lustre, 
and a bushy crest of the same colour on the head. 
The mark on the wings is white, and the rest of the 
body is white, slightly suffused with reddish yellow. 

Section IV. Impennes. 
In this section the wings are short, and the 
legs are placed so far back that the birds can only 
walk with difficulty, and with the body in an upright 
position. 
Family I. Colymbida. (Divers). 
The Divers are better fitted for swimming and 
diving than for walking and flying. The hard beak 
is generally provided with contractile nostrils, the 
body is clothed with compact feathers, the short 
legs are placed far back, and the tail is short or 
absent. They inhabit the northern and temperate 
zones, and are almost always found on the water, 
where they breed in a floating nest. 
Fig. b. The Great Crested Grebe (FPodiceps 
cristatus) is as large as a wild duck. The male is 
blackish-brown above and shining white beneath, and 
is adorned with a black crest of feathers on the head, 
and a rusty-red collar on the neck, bordered with 
black. It is found on the sea-coasts of Europe, Asia, 
| North Africa and North America. 
Fig. c. The Great Northern Diver (Colymbus 
glacialis) is quite as large as a goose, and weighs 



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