RED-NECKED BERNICLE-GOOSE. 635 



and decimate as far as the unguis, which is roundish and 

 convex, the ridge flattened at the base, presently narrowed 

 and convex, the edges almost straight, the ends of the lamellae 

 not apparent ; the lower mandible with the intercrural space 

 long and rather wide ; the lower outline of the crura almost 

 straight ; the unguis roundish, slightly convex. 



The nostrils are sub-medial, lateral, oblong, three-twelfths 

 in length. The eyes small. The legs short and stout ; the 

 tibia bare for nearly half an inch ; the tarsus compressed, 

 covered with small angular scales. The hind toe is extremely 

 small and elevated, with two scutella, the second with four- 

 teen, the third with twenty, the fourth with eight, a great 

 part of their extent being covered with scales ; the mem- 

 branes reticulated, with their margin concave. The claws 

 are small, arcuate, rather depressed, obtuse, that of the middle 

 toe with its inner edge expanded, and the tip rounded. 



The plumage is full, close, soft, and glossy; on the head and 

 neck blended, on the latter linear-oblong, those behind some- 

 what elongated ; on the fore part of the back and wings broad 

 and abruptly rounded, on the sides very large and rounded. 

 The wings are large, and when closed extend almost to the 

 end of the tail ; the primaries strong, tapering, the second 

 longest. The tail is very short, rounded, of sixteen broad, 

 rounded feathers. 



The bill is reddish-brown, with the unguis black ; the iris 

 reddish-brown ; the feet brownish-black. The throat, upper 

 part of the head, and a narrow band along the hind-neck, are 

 black. A large patch between the bill and the eye is white. 

 Behind the eye is an ovate-oblong, brownish-red patch, sur- 

 rounded by a white band, which runs down the neck in a 

 narrow streak. The fore part of the neck is bright brownish- 

 red. At the lower part of the neck the red is bordered with 

 a narrow band of black, beyond which is a white ring. The 

 breast and upper parts are brownish-black; the feathers of 

 the sides, and the larger upper wing-coverts tipped with 

 white. The hind part of the breast, abdomen, lower tail- 

 coverts, and rump, are white. The tail is brownish-black, 

 like the quills. 



Length to end of tail 22 inches ; wing from flexure 14 ; 



