620 BERNICLA. BERNICLE GOOSE. 



apparent from without ; lower mandible with the intercrural 

 space long, rather wide, and partially hare, the short dorsal 

 line convex, the crura rather narrow, their lower outline 

 straight, their sides sloping outwards and convex, the edges 

 elevated, inclinate, denticulate with the short outer extremi- 

 ties of the numerous lamellae; the unguis roundish and 

 moderately convex ; the gape-line straight, commencing under 

 the upper basal angle of the mandible. 



Mouth of moderate width. Tongue, digestive organs, 

 and trachea as in the genus Anser. 



Nostrils moderate, oblong, submedial. Eyes small, eye- 

 lids feathered, with bare crenulate margins. Aperture of 

 ear rather small. Feet rather short or moderate, strong, 

 placed well forward ; tibia bare for a very short space ; 

 tarsus moderately compressed, reticulated with small angular 

 scales. Toes as in the genus Anser, but with fewer scutella, 

 there being more of the basal space occupied with scales ; 

 membranes similar. Claws small, arcuate, rather depressed, 

 obtuse, that of the middle toe broadly rounded, and with its 

 inner edge expanded. 



Plumage full, close, firm, very soft, and glossy. Feathers 

 of the head short, of the neck narrow, blended, and not dis- 

 posed into ridges ; those of the lower parts larger than in the 

 Geese ; but the plumage in other respects similar. Quills 

 twenty-eight, the second longest, the first slightly shorter. 

 Tail short, rounded, generally of sixteen broad, rounded 

 feathers. 



The bill and feet are black, and that colour predominates 

 on the head and neck, as well as partially obtains on the 

 back ; the other principal colours are grey and white. 



The Bernicles inhabit the temperate and cold climates of 

 both continents in winter, and in summer betake themselves 

 to the arctic regions, where they breed, forming their nests 

 of grass and other herbage in the marshes or on islands, and 

 laying numerous elliptical white or greenish eggs. They 

 are gregarious, like the Geese, which they resemble in their 

 habits, feeding like them on vegetable substances, but are 

 more strictly maritime, and derive the greater part of their 

 nourishment in winter from Zostera marina and Alga?. They 



