PALMIPEDES. 421 
AnsER, Briss. 
Geese have a moderate or short bill, narrower before than be- 
hind, and higher than wide at base; their legs, being longer than 
those of the Ducks, and placed nearer the centre of the body, increase 
their facility in walking. Several of them feed on seeds and plants. 
There is no inflation at the root of the trachea, nor is there any 
curve in that organ in any of the species known. 
GreseE, properly so called, 
Have a beak as long as their head; the ends of the lamellz extend 
to its edges, appearing like pointed teeth. 
in. anser, L. (The Common Goose), which has acquired all 
sorts of colours in our poultry-yards, originates from a wild 
species that is grey, with a brown mantle undulated with grey 
and an orange-coloured beak, the Ans. cinereus, Meyer; Albin., 
90; Naum. Ed. I, pl. 41, f. 60. There is another species, how- 
+ ever, which arrives late in the fall, and which may be known by 
its wings being longer than the tail, and by some white spots on 
the forehead; its bill is orange with a black base and point. 
Ans. segetum, Meyer, Enl. 985; Frisch, 155; Naum., I, C. 42, 
fer. 
Anas albifroms, Gm.; L’Oie rieuses Edw. 153; Naum. Ed. I, 
43,f. 62. (The White- fronted Goose.) Is sometimes seen in 
France during the winter. It is grey, with a black belly and 
white forehead. 
The north of both continents produces, a fourth species. 
An. hyperborea, Gm.; Wils. VIII, Ixviii, 5; and the young 
Ixix, 5; Naum. Ed. I, Sup. pl. 23, f. 46. (The Snow-Goose. ) 
White; feet and bill red; tips of the wing-quills black. It 
sometimes wanders into the temperate parts of Europe during 
the prevalence of heavy gales in winter. The young bird is 
more or less grey. ,It is the An. cwrulescens, Gm., Edw. 152. 
The 
BERNACLES(1) . 
Are distinguished from the Common Geese by a shorter and 
slenderer bill, the edges of which conceal the extremities. of the 
lamine. 
France is sometimes visited during the winter by that species 
- from the north of Europe, which is so celebrated by the fabu- 
Ce a ge 
(1) Bernacle, Scotch name of the .2. leucopsis. 
