ANSERINE. 253 



on 30.4.92 : " Regarding a Swan I saw and fired at (but failed to kill) in March, 

 1891, it was neither Bewick's Swan, nor the Mute Swan, nor the Whooper, as it 

 had bright orange legs. This bird is not mentioned in your book on birds, and 

 I fancy it must have been a specimen of Cygnus davidii, mentioned in Hume's 

 book as a possible visitor to India." 



Also the genus Ohenopis. The Black Swan. One species — 0. atratus, 40", legs black, bill 

 light scarlet, tips white, and crossed with a broad band of white, Australia (except northern 

 |)art) and Tasmania. 



Also the genus Goscoroba. With lores feathered. One species — G. coscoroba, 40", legs and 

 bill orange-red, plumage white, but tips of primaries black, south of S. America. 



Subfamily ANSEEiNiE. Geese. 



Bill short, high at base, and conical. No cere on the bill. Laminar teeth more 

 or less exposed. Large heavy body, with long neck and small head. Hind toe 

 moderately large, without lobe. Tarsus reticulated throughout. Plumage dull, 

 and without coloured speculum on wing-secondaries. Apparently only one moult 

 of all the feathers, which takes place soon after the young are hatched. Sexes 

 differ slightly. Live in flocks. Breed mostly in Polar regions. 



Genus ANSER. True Geese. 

 Anser, anseris=a. Goose. 



Bill at base nearly as high as head. Gutting edges of bill distinctly arched, 



with indentations of upper mandible visible (except in A. indieas). Of large 



size and grey plumage. Legs usually reddish. Tail short, rounded, of sixteen 



or eighteen feathers. Nest of grass on the ground, lined with down. Six to 



twelve eggs, yellowish white. 



Tip of upper mandible white. 



289. Anser ferns. The Lag or Grey Goose. 



Raj-hans, Hans, India; Kallank, Karhans, Bkaiigulpore ; Sona, N.W.P.; Mogala, 

 Nepal; Kangnai, Manipur ; Gh3.z, Kcishgar. 



? 30" to 35" ; 5f to 9 lbs. Legs tile-red. Bill fleshy, tip white. Head and 

 neck dove-brown, tinged grey. Irides deep brown. No white on forehead. 

 Above dark brown, edged paler. Below light brown, with black bars on lower 

 breast. Female one-seventh shorter than the male. The origin of the Domestic 

 Goose in Europe. Blyth states that the tame Geese of India are a mixed race, 

 and hybrids between A. ferus and G. cygnoides, the Chinese Goose. Europe 

 north of 50° lat., C. Asia, and S. Siberia, migrating to S. Europe, N. Africa, 

 S.W. Asia, and N. India. Six to fourteen eggs (3|^ x 2-4), chalky white. (J. 948. 

 B. 1579.) See illustration, p. 254. 



Also A, rubrirostris. 33". Legs and bill red, similar to A. ferus, but more marked with 

 black below. Distinguished by many as the Eastern race. 



290. Anser albifrons. The Whitk-fkonted or Laughing Goose. 



Albyrons='with a white forehead ; from albus+frons. 



(J 26" to 28"; 4J to 5| lbs. Legs orange. Bill yellow, nail white. Eorehead 

 ■and cheeks white, with brown band. Above ash-brown. Beneath white, with 

 black cross -bands. — Female: Smaller, with less black on the breast. Erom 

 Greenland to Siberia, migrating to the Mediterranean, Egypt, the Caspian, 

 N. India, Assam, Upper Burma, and China. Eggs (2'9 x 2} creamy white. 

 <J. 947. B. 1580.) 



