Order  VIII.  ANSERES. 
Family  I.  Anatid^e. 
The  second  Subfamily, 
PLECTROPTERI  NiE,  or  Spur-winged  Geese, 
have  the  Bill  long,  generally  of  equal  width  throughout,  and  armed  at  the  tip  with  a  strong  broad  nail ; 
the  apical  part  of  the  tibia  and  knee  naked ;  the  Tarsi  lengthened,  compressed,  and  covered  with 
small  subquadrate  scales  ;  the  Toes  moderate,  and  the  anterior  ones  more  or  less  united  by  a  membrane  ; 
the  hind  toe  long,  simple,  and  generally  elevated. 
Anseranas  Less.* 
Bill  long,  broader  at  the  base  than  towards  the  tip,  the  base  more  elevated  than  broad ;  the  culmen 
gradually  sloping,  the  bill  covered  with  a  warty  skin,  which  extends  round  the  eyes  to  a  point  on  the 
forehead,  leaving  only  the  large  broad  strong  nail  at  the  tip  naked  ;  the  nostrils  placed  near  the 
middle  and  culmen,  membranous,  and  having  the  opening  small.  Wings  long,  with  the  third  and  fourth 
quills  equal  and  longest.  Tail  long  and  rounded.  Tarsi  lengthened,  as  long  as  the  middle  toe  without 
the  claw,  covered  with  small  nearly  rounded  scales.  Toes  lengthened,  slender,  with  the  three  anterior 
ones  united  by  a  web  only  at  the  base,  and  the  sides  margined ;  the  hind  toe  long  and  hardly 
elevated  above  the  plane  of  the  other  toes  ;  the  claws  long,  compressed,  and  acute. 
The  type  is  peculiar  to  Australia,  and  utters  a  shrill  whistling  note. 
A.  melanoleuca  (Lath.)  Lamb.  Icon.  ined.  iii.  7v  Cuv.  Mem.  du  I  semipalmata  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  Suppl.  ii.  pi.  \3Q.,  Lamb.  Icon  ined. 
Mus.  xi.  cah.  t.  19-,  Less.  Compl.  du  Buff.  Ois.  t.  49.  f.  1.  — Anas  |  i.  74. 
Plectropterus  Leach.-f 
Bill  lengthened,  the  base  as  broad  as  high,  and  the  culmen  gradually  sloping  to  the  tip,  which  is  armed 
with  a  large  broad  nail ;  the  nostrils  oval,  and  placed  near  the  middle  and  culmen.  Wings  lengthened, 
with  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  quills  equal  and  longest,  and  the  bend  of  the  wings  armed  with  a 
strong  spur.  Tail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  long,  a  trifle  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  strong,  and 
covered  with  small  quadrate  scales,  those  of  the  front  the  largest.  Toes  long,  the  anterior  ones  united 
by  an  indented  web  ;  the  hind  toe  elevated  and  simple.  The  base  of  the  culmen  furnished  with  a  naked 
protuberance  ;  the  cheeks  and  a  portion  of  the  neck  of  the  adult  denuded  of  feathers. 
The  single  species  of  this  genus  is  only  found  in  Africa ;  especially  in  the  western  and  southern  parts. 
P.  gambensis  (Linn.)  Steph.  Lath.  Syn.  vi.pl.  102.,  Mag.  de  Zool.  1834.  Ois.  t.  2Q,  30  Anser  spinosus  Bonn. 
*  Established  by  M.  Lesson  in  1828  (Man.  d'Ornith.  ii.  p.  418.).    It  is  coequal  with  Choristopus  of  Mr.  Eyton  in  1838. 
t  Mr.  Stephens  (Gen.  Zool.  xii.  p.  6.)  adopted  this  name,  in  1824,  from  the  MS.  of  the  late  Dr.  Leach. 
