279. 
692. 
693. 
684 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — LAMELLIROSTRES — ANSERES. 
and striking with the wings. With some exceptions the plumage is not so bright and variegated 
as that of ducks, and the 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 nove-hollandie, 
the former having the feet little more than semipalmate, the latter scarcely aquatic, with very 
long legs, much bare above the suffrago, and the bill small, very membranous; the African 
Plectropterus gambensis, a purplish-black bird with spurs on the wings and a tubercle at the 
base of the bill; the Asiatic Cynopsis cygnoides, frequently domesticated, a true goose with 
a swan-like aspect; the Egyptian gouse, Chenalopex 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 Tadorna vulpanser and Casarca rutila; there are several 
others in the southern hemisphere; our long-legged arboricole genus Dendrocygna belongs 
in the immediate vicinity, while the domesticated musk duck, Catrina moschata, is not far 
removed. Through such forms as these we are brought directly among the ducks proper. 
Analysis of Genera. 
Bill pink; feet yellow; under parts extensively black. Bill tapering, not longer than head. Lamelle 
moderately exposed. © 2 ee 2 ew te he ee ee a gay Ae Ray Sen Sap Bh ae Anser 279 
Bill and feet pink. Plumage white, or much varied. Bill tapering, not longer than head, Lamelle 
Gompletely exposed. - Hw RO OR ee eR ee Se Chen 280 
Bill and feet black ; head and neck black, ‘with white spaces Bill tapering, shorter than head. Lamellz 
GGEr ss. es 8 ae go SRE Re Ro ee oR oe ae ae ee a ee Bernicla 282 
Bill and feet light; platings bluish, with black crescents, Bill tapering, not louver than head, Lamelle 
PAT SEPONEE Go a OR ee ea a we Philacte 281 
Bill and feet various; plumage much variegated. Bill scarcely tapering, longer than head Dendcacyine 283. 
Oss. — These characters only indicate the N. Am. species. 
AN’/SER. (Lat. anser, a goose.) Gray GEESE. Bill shorter or not longer than head, 
very stout, tapering to obtuse tip, at base rather higher than broad. Lateral lamelle some- 
what exposed by bevelling of tomia. Nostrils in basal half of bill, their anterior edge only 
reaching its middle. Tibiz 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 of 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; culmen 1.50-1.75. 2. 00 6 ee we ee ee . albifrons 692 
Bill large; culmen 1.75-2.00 . 2 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee oe gambeli 693 
A. al/bifrons. (Lat. albus, white; frons, forehead.) EUROPEAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 
The above is the slight character which appears to separate this from the next. Only N. Am. 
as occurring in Greenland. 
A. a. gam/beli. (To Wm. Gambel.) AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. SPECKLE- 
BELLY. Tail normally 16-feathered. Bill smooth; the laminz moderately exposed. Adult g 
Q: 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 with black, in high plumage 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 toward 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 
