lO^ felEDS OP ILLINOIS. 



Order AMTSBRES.— the Lamellirostral Swimmers., 



t 



Chaeaoters. Lamellirostral swimming birds, with straight bills, short legs (always 

 shorterthanthe wing), the tibiEB usually completely feathered, and soaroely tree from the 

 body ; hallux well developed, though usually small, never absent. Reproduction prsecoeial, 

 and young ptilopsBdio; eggs numerous and unmarked, with a hard, usually very smooth, 

 shell. 



Bill flattened terminally, and provided at the tip with a more or less hooked nail or 

 "unguis", and along the edges with distinct vertical lamellae or strainers (more tooth-Uke 

 in the subfamily Mergince). 



The Order Anseres is composed mainly of a single family (Anat- 

 idcs) ,^ which, however, includes very numerous genera and species. 

 The order is represented in every portion'of the globe, but most 

 numerously in the northern hemisphere. It is allied most nearly 

 to the orders PHaenicdpteri (Flamingoes) and Palamedece 

 (Screamers), tlie former Tropicopolitan, the latter confined to 

 the central portion of the Neotropical Region. 



lExtralimltal families are (1) Ansp.rantid<r (Semlpalmated Geese), and (2) CereopsiclcB 

 (Ciipo Barren Geese), both peculiar td Australia. 



