Order VII. ANSERES.
Family I. Anatidje.
The third Subfamily,
ANSERINE, or Geese,
have the Bill as long as, or shorter than, the head, the culmen much elevated at the base and gradually
sloping to the tip, which is armed with a large broad nail, the sides compressed, and the marginal laminse
more or less apparent ; the Wings lengthened ; the Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and the knee
naked ; the Toes short, and strongly webbed, with the hind toe short, elevated, and scarcely lobed.
Cereopsis Lath.*
Bill very short, with the base elevated, and the culmen arched for three fourths of its length, and
then depressed to the tip, which is protected by a large and broad nail ; the nostrils very large, rounded,
and pierced in the cere, which covers the basal portion of the bill to near the nail. Wings rather long,
with the first quill short. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Toes short, and united by an indented
web ; the hind toe short and not lobed.
The type of this genus is peculiar to the continent of Australia, where it is never seen on water, but wanders
about the grassy declivities and the shores, in search of grass, on which it principally feeds.
1. C. nova hollanduE Lath. PI. col. 206., Jard. & Selby's 111. Orn. n. s. pi. 33. — Cereopsis cinereus Cuv. ; C. australis Swains. ; Anser
griseus Vieill.
Anser Barr.\
Bill more or less lengthened, elevated at the base ; the culmen sloping to the tip, which is furnished
with a large broad nail ; the sides compressed, the lateral margins of both mandibles strong, and armed
with very strong and widely set tooth-like laminae ; the margins of the upper mandible arched and
angulated at the base ; the nostrils large, with the opening in the middle of the bill, and longitudinal.
Wings long, and the first and second quills the longest. Tail short and rounded. Tarsi as long as the
middle toe, and covered with reticulated scales. Toes long, and united by an indented web, the lateral
ones unequal ; and the claws short and curved.
These birds seek the higher latitudes during the Bummer months ; and as the winter appears they return to the warmer
portions of Europe, Asia, and America. They are mostly seen in the meadows and marshes of the interior, where they
seek their food of grass and grain. On the land they walk with facility, and are very buoyant and graceful on the

• Established by Latham (1801), in his Index Ornithologictts, Suppl. lxvii.
  

t Established by Barrere (1745), in his Omith. Sp. nov. p. 16. ; and it embraces Chen of M. Boie (1822), and Cygnopsis of M. Brandt