262 



AVKS. 



rirlge. Tliey carry tlic neck more upright, and never elevate tlie terlial plumes. None of tliem Las 

 any protiiherance on the t)ase of tlie hill; and they have all "white 

 plumage with hiack feet, or, in the young, grey plumage with white 

 \viiig'<, and the feet white when newly hatehed. They yield the swan's 

 down of commerce, whicli is much inferior both in quality and quan- 

 tity in the others; and are restricted in their distrihution to the 

 northern hemisphere. 



(!)f four species, two are respectively peculiar to each continent. 



The Trumpeter Swan (C. buccinator) of America is the largest, and yields 

 most of the down of commerce, together with tlie next species. Its hill is 

 wholly hIack, and the trachea forms a double vertical convolution within tlie 

 sternal ri(.l;:;e, and is bifurcated into short inthited bronchi. 



Audubon's Swan (C. Audulionii and americana) is smaller, liut fully eipials 

 the European Hooper Swan in size, althouy-h it has been confounded with 

 C.Betvlcki/. Its bill has an orange-yellow spot on each side towards the base, 

 and the trachea forms a horizontal flexure within the inflated hind-margin of 

 the sternum, having^ similar bronchi to those of the last. 



Bewick's Swan (C. Beu-ichn) is considerably smaller, witli exactly similar 

 tracheal apparatus, and a larger orange-yellow space at the base of the 

 bill, extending to the nostrils. (_)f seventeen specimens dissected by us, 

 one only presented the hurizoutal flexure of the trachea (represented 

 fiom the identical specimen in fig. 130), though several were evidently older 

 birds : but the inflated form of the bronchi constitutes an in^'ariable distinc- 

 tiiin from the nex* species. Tail-feathers generally twenty, sometimes eighteen, and we have more than once met 

 with nineteen, where none had been lost. It is much less common in Britain, as a winter visitant, than the next. 

 The Hooper Swan (C. music us. Anas ci/gnus, Lin.), or common Wild Swan of Knrope. which visits Britain in 

 abundance in severe winters. The largest specimens are scarcely inferior in size to the ilute species, and have 

 the most extended brilliant-yellow space at the base of the bill of any, extending beyond the nostrils. The 

 trachea forms but a single vertical flexure, and the bronchi are much longer than in the others, and not inflated. 

 On dissecting a cygnet in its down, we found the cavity of the sternal ridge completely formed, but the trachea 

 did not enter. The tail-feathers are generally twenty, and sometimes twenty-one or twenty-two. All these birds 

 ntter loiul trumpeting cries, and the present species has also a low musical note, which is often repeated.] 



We can scarcely distinguish from the Swans certain species, wdiich undouhtedly arc less elegant, hut 

 have the same beak. As 



The Knobbed Goose (.Uias rii(]iio'n1cs, Lin.), which we rear in nur poultry-yards, and which interbreeds readily 

 with the common domestic species. The base of its upper mandible is protuberant, as in the Mute Swan, and its 

 neck is whitish, with a dark streak jjassing down the back of it. [In every essential particular, this is a true 

 Goose, and has sixteen cervical vertebra, like the rest of that genus. Its flesh is less highly esteeineil than that 

 of tlie common bird ; than which, however, it is considerably more prolific, jiropagating at all seasons. As m the 

 other Geese, it seeks its food principally, or it may be said wholly, on land, and utters loud noisy cries.] 



The Spur-winged Goose {Anas Gamhensis, Lin.). — Remarkable for its size, its elevated legs, the tubercle upon 

 its forehead, and the two stout spurs with which the bend of its wing is armed. Its plumage is empurpled black, 

 [very like that of a Musk Duck, to which this species is considerably allied, notwithstanding its long legs. It 

 forms the genus Pleciropterns of Swjunson. 



The author also includes among the Swans the Canada Goose {A. canndeiui.s)^ which also possesses every 

 intrinsic character of tlie true Geese. It is a very large species, with a long black neck, and white mark across 

 tbe throat, as in the Black-necked Swan ; which is likewise readily domesticated, and breeds plentifidly in Europe. 

 Another nearly allied {A. Ilu/c/iiitsonii) has more recently been discovered in the same country — Nurth America, 

 fifun which neither has been known to stray across the Atlantic in the wild state, though found very far to the 

 north. The first down of all the Geese is mottled, of the Swans plain.] 



The Geese {A)iser, Brisson) — 

 Have the bill moderate or :^llort, narrow^er in front than behind, and higher than broad at the base; 

 the legs longer than in the Ducks, and placed nearer the middle of the body, to facilitate their gait 

 on land. Tliey have no labyrinth at the bottom of the trachea, nor does the latter form any curve in 

 the known sjjccies. Several [all] feed on grass and grain. 



TiTE Geese, properly so called, — 



Have the hill as long as the head, with the ends of the lamelhc extending to its edges, and appearing 

 like pointed teeth. 



[The last-mentioned character is most strongly devclopoil in the Snow Goose (A. ?ii//irr/iornis) of North .Vmerica, 

 thp adult male of which is white, with black primaries. This species rarely strag-les into northern Europe. Four 



