BERNICLA. BERNICLE GOOSE. 621 



are more active than the Geese, and their flesh is still more 

 highly esteemed. 



To this genus belong the Canada Goose and Hutchins's 

 Goose of North America, as well as two species common to 

 it and Europe, and which occur plentifully in Britain during 

 winter. Another species also has several times been met 

 with there. 



Although the name Bernicla, first given by Mr. Stephens 

 to this genus, is barbarous, I feel unwilling to adopt another, 

 simply because I cannot find a better. The Anas Bernicla 

 of Linnseus seems to include both the Bernicle Goose and 

 Brent Goose of British authors ; and as some have taken 

 the former to be Anas erythropus of Linnseus, while others 

 name it Anser leucopsis, and the Brent Goose Anser Ber- 

 nicla ; and as the extrication of all this confusion is worth 

 no one's while, seeing the birds are common and can be 

 described at length, and named anew or reasonably, I think 

 it best to call the Bernicle, Bernicla leucopsis, as Bechstein 

 and Temminck have done, and the Brent, Bernicla Brenta, 

 as some have named it, although melanopsis would be a much 

 better name, it having an entirely black head and face. With 

 such names, all others being discarded, it is quite impossible 

 that the student should fall into any mistake. 



