CHAP. XVIII.] 



BIRDS. 



363 



Order IX.—ANSERES. 



Family 118.— ANATID^E. (40 Genera, 180 Species.) 



General Distribution. 



The Anatidse, comprehending the Ducks, Geese, and Swans 

 with their allies, are of such universal distribution that there is 

 probably no part of the globe where some of them are not 

 occasionally found. They are, however, most abundant in tem- 

 perate and cold regions ; and, contrary to what occurs in most 

 other families, the most beautifully-coloured species are extra- 

 tropical, and some even arctic. The distribution of the genera 

 is as follows : — 



Anseranas (1 sp.), Australia ; Pledropterus (2 sp.), Tropical 

 Africa ; Sarkidiornis (1 sp.), South America, Africa, and India ; 

 Chenalopex (1 sp.), Amazonia ; Callochen (1 sp.), South Europe, 

 North, East, and South Africa ; Cercopsis (1 sp.), Australia ; 

 Anser (13 sp.), Palsearctic and Nearctic regions to Central 

 America and the Antilles ; Bernicla (12 sp.), Temperate regions 

 of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres ; Chloephaga (5 sp.), 

 South Temperate America and Aleutian Islands ; Nettapus (4 

 sp.), Tropical Africa and Madagascar, India and Ceylon to 

 Malaya and Australia; Cygnus (10 sp.), Temperate regions of the 

 Northern and Southern Hemispheres; Dendrocygna (10 sp.), 

 Tropical and sub-tropical regions ; Tadorna (3 sp.), Palrearctic 

 and Australian regions ; Casarca (5 sp.), Palsearctic, Oriental, 

 Ethiopian, and Australian regions, to New Zealand; Aix (2 sp.), 

 Temperate North America and Eastern Asia ; Mareca (4 sp.), 

 Palsearctic region, North America, Temperate South America, 

 and Australia ; Dafila (3 sp.), all America and the Palaaarctic 

 region ; Anas (16 sp.), cosmopolitan ; Querquedula (17 sp.), 



