The edges of the lower mandible are serrated with teeth much more prominent, coarser and sharper than in the duck.

The common goose does not sift the water, but uses its beak exclusively for tearing or cutting herbage, for which purpose it is so well fitted that it can crop grass closer than almost any other animal.

There are other species of geese, as I hear from Mr.

Bartlett, in which the lamellae are less developed than in the common goose.