BLACK-FACED BERNICLE-GOOSE. 631 



behind. The feathers on these species are not entirely 

 •white, but have a broad band of that colour near the 

 end. The general colour of the upper parts is brownish- 

 grey, but the feathers are terminally margined with light 

 greyish-brown. The quills are greyish-black, with brown 

 shafts, the inner secondaries lighter ; the primary coverts 

 grey, becoming blackish toward the end ; the secondary 

 coverts dull grey. The breast and sides are pale brownish- 

 grey, transversely interruptedly barred with greyish-white, 

 the terminal edges of the feathers being of the latter colour ; 

 the tibial feathers grey, as are the axillary, and the lower 

 surface of the wing ; the abdomen, lower and upper tail- 

 coverts, white. The tail-feathers are greyish-black. 



Length to end of tail 25 inches ; extent of wings 48 ; 

 wing from flexure 13^; tail 4^; bill along the ridge lj, 

 along the edge of lower mandible 1^ ; tarsus 2^ ; hind 

 toe oyL, its claw -^ ; second toe 1^-, its claw T V ; third 

 toe 1{-|, its claw -^ ; fourth toe 1 -fa, its claw T 4 Y . 



Female. — The female is somewhat smaller, but otherwise 

 differs from the male only in having the upper parts more 

 tinged with brown. 



Length to end of tail 23 inches ; extent of Avings 46 ; 

 wing from flexure 13 ; tail 4 J ; bill along the ridge 1-fa ; 

 tarsus 2j ; middle toe 1^, its claw -fa. 



Habits. — This species is very abundant on many parts of 

 our coasts, from the end of October to the middle of April. 

 I have seen it in the Hebrides, both on the sea and on fresh- 

 water. Being in the Bay of Cromarty, in the middle of 

 March, 1837, I met with some very large flocks, dispersed 

 over the shoals of mud and sand, which were covered with a 

 luxuriant crop of Zostera marina, the rhizomata of which 

 being juicy and saccharine, affords them a nutritious food. 

 When the banks were covered by the tide, they floated in 

 repose over the bay, or flew off to a distant part. Several 

 thousands were seen, but their numbers were said to have 

 been greatly diminished. I have also met with them, in 

 smaller numbers, in the Beauly Frith, the Montrose Basin, 



