ANSERINE — THE GEESE — BERNICLA. 



475 



parts, all the feathers of the back, the scapulars, and the larger wing-coverts being distinctly, thou"h 

 narrowly, tipped with pale ash, while the more bluish gray at the base of the feathers is every- 

 where more or less distinctly exposed. It is not likely, however, that these differences will prove 

 constant. 1 These European skins measure as follows: Wing, 14.90-16.90 inches ; culmen, 1.10- 

 1.45 ; tarsus, 2.50-3.00 ; middle toe, 1.90-2.10. 



The claim of the J3arnacle Goose to be included in the North American fauna is 

 based upon its probable constant occurrence in Greenland, and occasional capture 

 along the Atlantic coast. The individual 

 instances of its being taken at long inter- 

 vals and in distant localities may possibly 

 be accounted for by considering them as 

 birds escaped from confinement. In a few 

 instances the occurrence of this bird in this 

 country can be proved to have been caused 

 in the manner suggested; other cases are, 

 and will perhaps remain, doubtful. 



Holboll states that this Goose in autumn 

 regularly visits the southern part of Green- 

 land ; but he does not believe that it breeds 

 anywhere in that country. Professor Eein- 

 hardt, however, considers these two state- 

 ments inconsistent with each other — and 

 indeed he has been told that a few of the 

 eggs of this Goose have been actually taken 

 in Greenland ; though he is not positive as 

 to the truth of this statement. 



One specimen was obtained by Mr. B. E. Eoss near Eupert House, on James's 

 Bay, at the southern end of Hudson's Bay, and is presumed to be the first jSTorth 

 American specimen ever procured, or at least known to have been taken. Another 

 was shot on the coast of Nova Scotia; but there is no doubt that it was one of 

 several that a short time before had escaped from the grounds of Mr. A. Downs, near 

 Halifax. 



No mention is made of the Barnacle Goose by Dr. Eichardson, and it was not 

 noticed either b}' himself or by any of his party. Hearne, however, refers to the 

 occurrence, on Hudson's Bay, of a single specimen of what he styles the Bean Goose. 

 He speaks also of seeing this Goose at least three several times ; and it is quite 

 possible that the bird he refers to under this name may be the Barnacle. 



A second specimen has more recently been taken in Currituck Sound, N. C. It 

 was killed on the 31st of (3ctober, 1870, from a blind where there Avere fifteen or 

 twenty live Geese as decoys, toward whom it was attracted. It was unaccompanied 

 by any other bird. It is not improbable that this may have been a bird escaped from 

 confinement. 



Both Nuttall and Bonaparte refer to this species as being rare and accidental in 

 America ; but unfortunately mention no authority for the statement, and refer to no 



1 Since the above was written there has been received at the National Museum a tine mounted example 

 of the Barnacle Goose, obtained at Jamaica Bay, Long Island, on Oct. 18, 1876, by Mr. J. Kendall, by 

 whom it was kindly presented to the Museum. This example is even more different from the Hudson's 

 Bay one than the European specimens above mentioned, the whole back being distinctly marked with 

 broad bars of bluish gray. In size it is intermediate, in all its measurements, between the extremes 

 as given in the diagnosis on p. 455. 



