OD«) 



Order V. ANSERES. 



Family ANATID^i. 



Genus ANSER. 



Anser, Brisson, Orn. vi. p. 262 (1760). 



Anas apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. p. 197 (1766). 



Branta apud Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 69 (1769). 



The true Geese are distributed over the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions, ranging into the 

 northern parts of the Ethiopian Region and the Oriental Region. Five species are found in the 

 Western Palasarctic Region, where they breed in the more boreal portions, and migrate south at 

 the approach of winter. 



They are essentially water-birds, frequenting both fresh and salt water. They swim and 

 even dive with ease, walk well, often traversing considerable distances, and fly swiftly, often at 

 great altitudes. Except during the breeding-season, they are gregarious, and migrate in large 

 flocks. Their note is a rather harsh loud call, which may be heard at a great distance. They 

 feed on vegetable substances, and usually frequent open places, where they are able to see an 

 intruder from afar. They eat grass, the tender shoots of plants and grain, and the roots of 

 some plants ; but some Geese are said occasionally to eat insects. They nest on the ground, 

 constructing a tolerably large nest of flags, grasses, &c, which, when the eggs are deposited, 

 they line with down. The eggs, from six to twelve in number, are dull yellowish white 

 without any markings. 



Anser cinereus, the type of the genus, has the bill about as long as the head, subcorneal, 

 higher than wide at the base, narrowing towards the tip, on which is a conspicuous nail or 

 unguis, the sides of the upper mandible denticulated with the triangular ends of the lamellae ; 

 nostrils moderate, oblong, placed near the centre of the bill, in the anterior portion of the nasal 

 depression; wings large and full, the second quill longest; legs moderate, strong, placed well 

 forward ; tibia bare for a short distance ; tarsus moderate, reticulate ; hind toe small, placed 

 high ; anterior toes long, united to the claws by a membrane ; claws short, arched, obtuse . 

 plumage tolerably full and close, the feathers on the neck narrow and disposed in oblique 

 ridges. 



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