11 [ANSERINjE. 



SUB FAM. H. ANSERINE. 



Ext. Char. Rostrum altius-quam latum. Pedes mediocres validi, digitis posterioribus 

 non lobatis. 



Anat. Char. Sternum mediocre, postice fissuris magnis et apertis; carina non antice 

 products, lata postice et non ad ultimam marginem sterni continuata. Pelvis mediocris. 

 Foramina ischiadica magna et ovata. Os furcatorium validum arcuatum. Processus coracoides 

 validus et brevis. Alee longte. Costcc latfe, processu longo instructag. Trachea fere complanata, 

 sed aliquando bulbosa, et in sterno penetrans. Larynx inferior aliquando bulbosa. 



Ext. Char. Bill higher than broad. Feet moderate, strong, the posterior toes not lobed. 



Axat. Char. Sternum moderate, furnished with large and open fissures behind : keel not 

 produced anteriorly, broad, not continued to the posterior margin. Pelvis of moderate size, with 

 the ischiadic foramina large and ovate. Os furcatorium strong, arcuated. The coracoid process 

 strong and short. Wings long. Ribs broad, furnished with a long process. Trachea commonly of 

 ecpial size. The inferior larynx sometimes bulbous. 



Habit. The birds contained in this family feed equally on the land and water ; some 

 species, however, scarcely ever approach it ; the whole live almost entirely on vegetables. They 

 have a very wide geographical range, and are mostly migratory. 



Type. Anser. 



Affinities. The nearest affinity it appears to present to the following sub-family appears to 

 be through the genus Chenalopex. On the other hand the genus Cereopsis appears to approach 

 the Plectropterinee in its anatomy and habit. 



