72 



ZOOLOGY. 



which they get their food by grubbing in the mud, 

 the soft skin of the beak serving as an organ of touch. 

 Polygamous. Young precocious (p. 51). 



Here belong — the long-necked Swans (Cygnus) 

 and the thick short-necked Geese (Anser), in which 

 the beak is higher than broad at its base; the 

 Swimming Ducks (Arias) with broader beaks, the 

 Diving Ducks (FuUgvZa), and Goosanders (Mergus) 

 with a broad hanging web to the hind toe. None 

 of these birds are useful, while wild geese and ducks 

 are harmful. 



Three species of wild Geese (Grey Goose = Anser 



Fig. 44. — Goose (^mer cinereus). 



einereus. Bean Goose = A. segetum, White-fronted Goose 

 = A. albifrons) chiefly breed in Eastern or Northern 

 Europe, and only come to Britain in autumn or 

 winter, flying about in flocks. They eat the grass 

 in low-lying meadows, and even pull it up by the 

 roots ; in the cultivated fields they devour winter 

 corn and winter rape, and tread down more with their 

 clumsy feet than thej;- eat. They are also harmful to 



