the pied goose 141 



Order Anseripormbs. 

 Aquatic birds. Young covered with down, and able to run 

 or swim a few hours after hatching. Palate desmognathous, 

 the maxillo-palatine processes uniting to form a long roof to the 

 palate. 



Family Anatidce. 

 Margins of bill laminated. 



Sub-family Cygninm. Swans. 

 Hind toe lobed. Neck very long, as long as, or even longer 

 than, the body. 



Genus Ghenopsis. 

 Predominant colour black. 



The Black Swan. 



Ghenopsis atrata. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Brownish "black, under surface paler; primaries and secondaries 

 white; tertiaries and scapulars crisp. Total length 40 inches, wing 19, 

 tail 4.6, culmen 2.8, tarsus 3.7. 



Nest a large bulky structure, usually built in swamps, either 

 of sticks and bark or of rushes, reeds, &c. ; occasionally floating. 

 From four to six eggs are laid, five being perhaps the most 

 usual. They are greenish-white or greyish-green, and measure 

 about 4.18 X 2.62 inch. 



Sub-family Anseranatince. 

 Hind toe not lobed. Feet half webbed. 



Genus Anseranas. 

 Plumage black and white. 



The Pied Goose. 



Anseranas semipalmata. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Head, neck, mantle, wings, tail and thighs black; back, breast, 

 abdomen, tail-coverts, scapulars and smaller upper wing-coverts white. 

 Total length 35 inches, wing 18.5, tail 8, bill 3.25, tarsus 3.62. 



