Description of a New Species op Anser, by George N. 

 Lawrence. Read March lGth, 184G. 



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 color, iris dark 

 hazel; head black, tinged with brownish rufons 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 dis- 

 tinct band of pure white, it is nearly two inches in width, round- 

 ing 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 greyish black ; t; 

 black, consisting of sixteen feather* ; upper and lower tail-covert.- 

 white ; wings black, extending half an inch beyond the tail; sec- 

 ond primary one line longer than the first ; third half an inch 

 shorter ; vent while. 



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

 broad, measures along the ridge 1 T } F inches; from '_ r ;ip lg; 

 lower mandible li ; tarsus 2 • : middle toe 2; outer l\; inner \l : 

 weight 3 pom. 



I have taken the above description and figure from an adnlt 

 female procured at E?g Harbor, N. X, in January. Since then 

 two others have been obtained ;it the s^me 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 



