214 Miscellaneous. 



Description of a new species of Anser. By George N. Lawrence. 



Anser nigricans, Black-bellied Goose. Specific character : — A large 

 white patch on the middle of the neck in front, and extending on the 

 sides ; belly brownish black ; bill higher than broad at the base. 



Bill black ; legs and toes black, tinged with flesh-colour ; iris dark 

 hazel ; head black, tinged with brownish rufous adjoining the bill, 

 with a dirty white line under the eye ; neck and fore-part of the 

 breast black ; a large white patch on the centre of the neck inter- 

 mixed with black, except at the lower part, where it forms a distinct 

 band of pure white ; it is nearly two inches in width, rounding on 

 each side of the neck and almost meeting behind ; belly brownish 

 black ; sides brownish ash, margined with white ; back dark brown, 

 each feather margined with a lighter shade ; rump-feathers black ; 

 axillars and lower wing-coverts grayish black ; tail black, consisting 

 of sixteen feathers ; upper and lower tail-coverts white ; wings black, 

 extending half an inch beyond the tail ; second primary one line 

 longer than the first ; third half an inch shorter ; vent white. 



Length 22^ inches ; alar extent 44 ; bill a little higher than broad ; 

 measures along the ridge l-^ inch ; from gape l§ ; lower man- 

 dible 1^ ; tarsus 2£; middle toe 2 ; outer 1| ; inner l£ ; weight three 

 pounds. 



I have taken the above description and figure from an adult female 

 procured at Egg Harbour, N. J., in January. Since then two others 

 have been obtained at the same place, one of which I have in my 

 possession. On dissection it proves to be a male. It agrees in 

 markings with the female, but is evidently a younger bird, being 

 somewhat lighter in the colour of its plumage. From this I infer 

 they become darker by age. It is a little larger than the female, the 

 bill being also stouter, measuring J inch high at the base. When 

 on a shooting excursion some years since, at Egg Harbour, I noticed 

 a bird flying at some distance from us, which our gunner said was a 

 Black Brant. This was the first intimation I had of such a bird. 

 Upon further inquiry of him, he informed me he had seen them oc- 

 casionally, but they were not common. I have learned from Mr. 

 Philip Brasher, who has passed much time at that place, that speak- 

 ing to the gunners about them, they said they were well-known there 

 by the name of Black Brant, and one of them mentioned that he once 

 saw a flock of five or six together. 



From these facts it appears to be known to gunners, but has here- 

 tofore escaped the notice of ornithologists. With all my inquiries 

 I have not been able to procure a specimen before this winter. I 

 think it a good and well-marked species. — Silliman's Journal for 

 May 1847. 



Account of a Black and White Mottled Swan, on the water in the demesne 

 of the Earl of Shannon, Castle Martyr, County Cork. By Maurice 

 Glencon, Gamekeeper to the Earl of Shannon. 



In the year 1843 a male black swan paired with a white female 

 swan ; she laid six eggs, and hatched four cygnets. Before they got 



