146 
ANSERINE. ANSER. 
of plants by immersing the head and neck. The nest, 
composed of grass and other herbage, is placed in marshes 
or on islands ; the eggs numerous, elliptical, and white, 
or grey. The male remains with the female and young. 
The plumage is the same in both sexes, and in this re- 
spect the young differ little from the adults. Their flesh 
is savoury, but not easily digestible. 
. GENUS CXX. ANSER. GOOSE. 
Birds of large size, having the body remarkably full, 
ovate, rather higher than broad ; the neck long and slender ; 
the head rather small, oblong, arched above, compressed. 
Bill as long as the head, stout, straight, subconical, of much 
greater height than breadth at the base, narrowed toward j 
the end, where it is somewhat depressed, and broadly j 
rounded ; upper mandible with the ridge broad and flattened 
at the base, then convex, the dorsal line decimate and j 
straight to near the unguis, which is round, very convex, de- | 
curved, and strong, the edges arched, denticulated with the 
triangular outer ends of the lamellae, which appear from 
without. Mouth of moderate width ; its roof concave, with j 
a medial row of tubercles, one or two series on each side, j 
then a series of small transverse ridges, a longitudinal 
groove, and a marginal series of lamellae ; tongue fleshy, 
thick, with a median groove, basal and lateral acute horny 
papillae, and thin, horny, rounded tip ; oesophagus long, nar- j 
row, enlarged below ; stomach an extremely developed, j 
oblique, transversely elliptical gizzard, with excessively thick j 
muscles, and roundish, concave grinding plates ; intestine 
long, rather narrow ; coeca long. Inferior larynx compressed. 
Nostrils moderate, oblong, submedial. Eyes small, eyelids 
feathered. Aperture of ear rather small. Legs moderate, 
strong, placed well forward ; tibia bare for a very short space ; 
tarsus moderately compressed, reticulate ; hind toe very 
small, elevated, thick beneath ; anterior toes rather long, 
scutellate, at the base scaly. Membranes full ; claws short, 
arched, rather compressed, obtuse. Plumage full, firm, un- 
less on the head and neck ; feathers of the head very small 
