I236 CLASS AVES. 



upon the radial side of the metacarpus an extraordinary spherical callus- 

 like mass of bone, about as large as a musket-ball, and with a roughened 

 surface. This singular callosity is much more developed in certain 

 individuals — supposed to be males — than in others, which we may pre- 

 sume to be females ; it was doubtless covered during life by a horny 

 integument, and seems to have been used as an offensive weapon. 

 Both these Birds are known to us by nearly entire skeletons obtained 

 recently from the islands which they inhabited ; and of the Dodo we 

 have also a few remains belonging to entire specimens once preserved in 

 our museums, which were unfortunately allowed to fall into decay, from 

 apparent ignorance of their priceless value. 



Remains of existing species of several genera of Columbida are 

 found in the Pleistocene cave-deposits of Brazil. 



Susorder 12. Anseres. — The Anseres, or Goose-like Birds, form 

 a well-defined subordinal group, characterised by peculiar features, 

 in the palatal region of the skull, and by the perfectly webbed feet ; 

 the beak being generally broad and spatulate, and the angle of the 

 mandible with a recurved process (fig. 11 20). All the existing 

 members of this group are referred to the family Anatidce, which 

 is, however, split up into several subfamilies. A peculiar subfamily 

 is represented by the living Cereopsis, of Australia ; allied to which 

 is the much larger extinct Cnemiornis, of the Pleistocene of New 



Fig 1120. — Skull of Spur-winged Goose {P lectrofiterus gambensis). Reduced. 



Zealand, which was quite incapable of flight. In the subfamily 

 Anserina, remains of the Grey-Lag Goose (Anser cinereus) occur 

 in the European Pleistocene. The Cygnincz, or Swans, are repre- 

 sented by the extinct Cygnus Falconeri, from the Pleistocene cave- 

 deposits of Malta. In the Anatincz (Ducks) an extinct species of 

 Tree-duck (Dendrocygna) is recorded from the Pleistocene of 

 Queensland. Remains of the Wild-duck (Anas boscas) occur in 

 the Pleistocene of Europe ; A. atavce and A. cygniformis are found 

 in the Middle Miocene of Bavaria, the latter species being nearly 

 as large as a Swan; A. csningensis, from the Upper Miocene of 

 Switzerland ; A. Hgntfila, from the Middle Miocene of Italy ; and 

 A. Blanchardi, from the Allier Miocene. Remains of the Shoveller 



