RELATIONSHIP OF SPECIES. 33 



It would appear that they are so classed in the first list 

 chiefly on account of the reticulations or plates on the meta- 

 tarsus, general size, and length of leg. This grouping appears 

 far from their true natures. All the birds that I have classed in 

 my list as Sheldrakes are spiteful birds, with great similarity in 

 habits and calls, and are all, I believe, infamous eating, while 

 the peculiarities on which they are generally classed are perhaps 

 parallelisms or independent mutations. 



All these birds hybridise together more readily as I have 

 grouped them than with members of the other groups. Plectro- 

 pterus may be only a possible inclusion. It has interbred with 

 Chenalopex, however, but I am not altogether familiar with it. 

 Chlcephaga and Chenalopex have an individuality quite typical of 

 Sheldrakes, that is, in the points I have named, and they no 

 more look and act like Geese or Ducks than a black Donkey 

 looks or acts like a black Horse. 



Mr. Finn, whom I quoted just now, and who has written an 

 interesting account of the different waterfowl,* is, I believe, 

 struck with this resemblance himself, and styles the larger of 

 these birds, or some of them, "overgrown Sheldrakes." Chlce- 

 phaga (the most Goose-like), which as a group is often referred 

 to as "the Southern Brents," may resemble to some extent 

 Bemicla (which is apparently a true Goose), but it has none of 

 a Goose's ways or characteristics, neither has it any love for 

 Geese, judging from how they hunt these birds about, when 

 breeding, in a somewhat un-Goose-like manner. 



Chenalopex resembles Anser in no respect whatsoever, except 

 in the reticulated metatarsus, and Tadorna, which, being the 

 smallest, most resembles the Duck tribe, seems in every way 

 dissimilar to these latter birds. 



I have had a good deal to do with Tadorna in confinement, 

 and having been born where these birds breed in large quanti- 

 ties I have taken much notice of them and their natural habits. 

 I have, for instance, when engaged in punt-gunning during very 

 bitter weather (and when for several days and nights on end I 

 would take up my quarters in a sailing boat), been particularly 

 struck with the fact that I have never on any one single instance 

 noticed Shelduck in company with any of the Anatince, even 



* ' Fancy Waterfowl' (1900). 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. XVIII., January, 1914. D 



