DUCK FAMILY

(Anatidae), a family containing over two hundred species birds, comprising swans, geese, and and found in all parts of the world. are typical swimming birds with feet and short legs set far back long bodies, so that they swim strongly, but. walk on land with stilted, awkward gait. Their wings are strong carry their heavy bodies with great speed through the air. The bill {s characteristic: flattened, covered with soft, sensitive skin, and fringed by a series of fine, tooth-like plates, which interlock and form a sieve through which the mud wherein they seek their food is strained. They live upon worms, molluscs, and aquatic imsects; and although they are found most frequently in flocks near rivers and lakes, in winter they betake themselves to the kindlier sea-shore. Many are migratory, only four are residents, while sixteen are uncertain visitors and twenty-two are regular visitors, many of them staying to breed. Some of these and their relatives are mentioned below. The Swans are familiar to all on account of the graceful so-called mute swan, (Cygnus olor,) distinguished by the black tubercle or ‘berry’ between its eyes. It is almost a domesticated bird, common on some rivers and lakes, but occasionally it reverts to a semi-wild state. Le graceful is the wild swan or whooper (C. music us), which carries it neck straight as it swims. Almost as familiar as these, on account of its presence in ornamental parks, is the black swan (Chenopsis atrata) of Australia. Amongst the Geese may be mentioned the greylag goose (Anser cinereus), which is the probable ancestor of domesticated geese; the black-headed brent goose (Bernicla brent a); and the Green land leucopsis). The true ducks, the male of which is known as a drake, are smaller, with shorter necks and more varied plumage than the swans and geese, and may be divided into sea or diving-ducks and non-diving ducks. The former, whose names indicate their habit, include many winter visitors, such as the pordense black collar and breast, nearly related to the canvas-backed duck marila); the golden eye (Clangula sima) and the common scoter (Oedemia nigra), while the merganser (Mergus merganser) nests also in Ireland. Amongst the non-diving ducks are the sheldtiwm crecca), and the ‘wild duck’ or mallard (Anas boscas); best known as winter visitors are the gadwall (Cha ule pen elope), and the shoyeller or ‘spoonbill’ (Spatula clype at a), and a solitary rare spring visitor is the garganey (Querquedula querquedula).