HUTCHINS'S BARNACLE GOOSE. 363 



formation afterwards obtained, he considered them as be- 

 longing to a different species, hitherto confounded with the 

 A. canadensis. In Hudson's Bay they are well known by 

 the Cree name of Apistisheesli, and are generally thought 

 by the residents to be merely a small kind of the Canada 

 Goose, as they have the white kidney-shaped patch on the 

 throat, which is deemed peculiar to that species. Their 

 habits, however, are dissimilar ; the Canada Geese frequent- 

 ing the fresh-water lakes and rivers of the interior, and 

 feeding chiefly on herbage ; while the present species are 

 always found on the sea coast, feeding on marine plants, 

 and the mollusca which adhere to them, and from whence 

 their flesh acquires a strong fishy taste. In form, size, and 

 general colors of the plumage, the new species more nearly 

 resembles the Brent, than the Canada Goose. It differs, 

 however, from the former in having the white reniform 

 patch on the throat and cheeks, in wanting the spotted 

 white mark on the side of the neck, in the black color 

 terminating 4 inches higher, instead of including the swell 

 of the upper parts of the back and breast, and in the white 

 of the vent being more extended. It is totally unlike A. 

 leucopsis in plumage, and has a larger bill. 



This species of Barnacle, named in honor of Mr. Hutch- 

 ins, and from whom Pennant and Latham derived most of 

 their information respecting the birds of Hudson's Bay, 

 breeds in considerable numbers on the shores and islands 

 of the Arctic sea, being seldom seen in the interior, and 

 keep near the sea coast in their migrations. They feed on 

 marine plants, and mollusca, as well as on grass and berries, 

 in common with the A. hernicla. 



Length of the species about 25 inches ; the wing 14 ; the bill to 

 the front 1 inch 8^ lines ; tarsus 2 inches 6 lines. The head, neck, 

 rump and tail, pitch black ; back, and both surfaces of the wings 

 clove-brownj the edges of the feathers yellowish-grey and worn. 



