108 SWANS.— GEESE. 



29. All the Palmipedes of the Tribe of Ducks, which naturalists 

 distinguish under the name of Anas, have a moderate, strong, 

 straight beak, which is more or less depressed, convex above, 

 flat below, rounded at the end, and terminated by a smooth scale 

 in the form of a nail. The edges of each mandible are armed 

 with little projecting lamellae, which are delicate and placed trans- 

 versely, and seem designed to permit the escape of water after 

 the animal has seized its prey. Their food consists of fishes, 

 mollusca, insects, grains, &c. To obtain their nourishment, some 

 submerge themselves entirely, while others remain on the surface, 

 and only plunge in their head and long neck. They are seldom 

 on land. 



30. This tribe is composed of Swans, Geese, and Ducks properly 

 so called. 



31. The SwA:^s,— Cj/gniis,—fPlate 6, jig. 9.) are the largest 

 birds of this group, and are distinguished by the forni of the beak 

 which is as wide in front as it is behind, and higher than it is wide 

 at its base. They feed chiefly on grains, and the roots of aquatic 

 plants. They swim with such facility, that a man walking rapidly 

 along the shore would have difliculty in keeping up with them, 

 and they fly with a great deal of lightness and strength. Whether 

 on the water or in the air, they are almost always seen in troops. 

 Their young quit the nest, swim and eat alone immediately after 

 they are hatched. Their down, which is very fine, serves for 

 many purposes. Their plumage is generally white. 



32. These birds have long been celebrated for the beauty of 

 their form, and for the grace with which they swim. Their 

 trachea is bent on the sternum, but their voice is not rendered 

 therefore more agreeable, and the ancients have very gratuitously 

 given celebrity to the song of the Swan. 



33. In Xew Holland, there is a Black Swan, which is the size 

 of the common species, but its carriage is less graceful and 

 elegant. 



34. Geese, — Anser, — have a moderate or short beak, narrower 

 before than behind, and higher than wide at its base; their legs 

 which are longer than those of Ducks properly so called, and 

 placed nearer to the middle of the body, give them greater 

 facility in walking. They feed on aquatic plants and grains. 



29. How are Palmipedes of the tribe of Ducks characterised 7 Upon 

 what do they feed ? 



30. What genera compose the tribe of Ducks? 

 39. What are the characters of Swans? 



32. What is peculiar \a the trachea of Swans ? 



33. Are all Swans white ? 



34. What are the characters of Geese? What are their habits? 



