6 84 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — LAMELLIB OSTBES — AN SEMES. 



and striking with the wings. With some exceptions the plumage is not so bright and variegated 

 as tliat of ducks, and tlie speculum is wanting ; there is only an annual moult, and no seasonal 

 change of plumage ; the sexes are generally alike. Most of the geese fall in or very near the 

 genera Anser and Bernicla, and are modelled in the likeness of the domestic breeds. The more 

 notable exotic forms are : the Australian Anseranas melanoleuca and Cereopsis nova-honandice, 

 the former having the feet little more than semipalmate, the latter scarcely aquatic, Avith very 

 long legs, much bare above the suffrago, and the bill small, very membranous ; the African 

 Plectrojjteriis gambensis, a purplish-black bird with spurs on the wings and a tubercle at the 

 base of the bill ; the Asiatic Cynnpsis cygndides, frecj^uently domesticated, a true goose with 

 a swan-lite aspect; the Egyptian goose, Clienalopex (egyptiaca. The geese appear to pass 

 directly into the ducks through the rather large shieldrake group, the species of which resemble 

 the latter in many external features, but are more essentially like geese. Characteristic exam- 

 ples of this group are the European Tadorita vulpanser and Casarca rutila; there are several 

 others in the southern hemisphere ; our long-legged arbijricole genus Dendrocygna belongs 

 in the immediate vicinity, while the domesticated musk duck, Cairina moschata, is not far 

 removed. Through such forms as these we are brought cUrectly among the ducks projoer. 



Analysis of Genera, 



Bill pink ; feet yellow ; under parts extensively black. Bill tapering, not longer than head. Lamellie 



moderately exposed Anser 279 



Bill and feet pink. Plumage white, or much varied. Bill tajiering, not longer than head. Lamellse 



completely exposed Oien 280 



Bill and feet hlack ; head and neck black, "srith white spaces Bill tapering, shorter than head. Lamellae 



hidden Bernicla 282 



Bill and feet light; plumage bluish, with black crescents. Bill tapering, not longer than head. Lamellaa 



partly exposed Philacte 2S1 



Bill and feet various; plumage much variegated. Bill scarcely tapering, longer than head Dendrocygna 283 

 Obs. — These characters only indicate the N. Am. species. 



279. AN'SEK. (Lat. anser, a goose.) Gkay Geese. Bill shorter or not longer than head, 

 very stout, tapering to obtuse tip, at base rather higher than broad. Lateral lamella; some- 

 what exposed by bevelling of tomia. Nostrils in basal half of bill, their anterior edge only 

 reaching its middle. Tibia> naked below. Tarsus rather shorter than middle toe and claw, 

 entirely reticulate. Anterior toes full-webbed, on top reticulate at base, then scutellate. 

 Hind toe moderate, reaching the ground. Tail nf 16 -|- feathers. Color not white, nor 

 with black head, neck, bill, or feet; the bill pink, the feet yellow (in our species). 



Analysis of Varieties. 



Bill small ; eulmen 1.50-1.7.5 albifrons 692 



Bill large; eulmen 1.7.5-2.00 ffambeli 093 



692. A. al'bifrons. (Lat. albus, white ; frons, forehead.) European Wiiite-peonted Goose. 

 The above is the slight character which appears to separate this from the next. Only N. Am. 

 as (jccuning in Greenland. 



693. A. a. gam'beli. (To Wm. Gainbel.) Amekioan White-fronted Goose. Speckle- 

 iiELLY. Tail normally 16-feathered. Bill smooth ; the lamina3 moderately exposed. Adult (J 

 9 : Bill pink, pale lake or carmine, the nails white. Feet yellow. Eyes brown. Claws 

 white. A white band along base of upper mandible, bordered behind by blackish ; upper tail- 

 coverts white. Under parts whitish, the breast and belly more or less extensively patched or 

 blotched witli black, in high jdumage perhaps mostly black, the sides of the rump, and the 

 crissum, white. Head and neck dark grayish-brown, paler on the lower neck in front, where 

 passing into the whitish black-blotched breast. Back dark ashy-gray, the feathers anteriorly 

 tipped with brown, farther back with pale gray. Secondaries and ends of primaries dusky, 

 more ashy tovs'ard base, the primary coverts and outer webs of primaries ashy, the greater 

 coverts and secondaries bordered with whitish, the primaries and coverts edged and tipped 



