A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 131 



previously Cumberland side ; said to have been seen other occasions 

 in Solway (Birds Dumfries., p. 248). Reported as seen Northum- 

 berland, Yorks., and Gloucester winter 1890-1 (Saunders, p. 405), 

 Norfolk, autumn, 1909, and Essex April and May, 1911 (c/. Brit. B„ 

 IV, p. 28, V, pp. 25, 139), but some of these later examples may have 

 been escapes from captivity. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Eastern Arctic Asia and western Arctic 

 America. On passage and in winter in western North America, 

 southwards to Lower California and Mexico ; in Asia south to Japan : 

 in Europe observed in several countries, such as Norway, Holland, 

 France, Heligoland, Germany, and probably elsewhere — even, 

 perhaps, in Greece. Replaced by A. h. nivalis in eastern North 

 America. 



280. Anser hyperboreus nivalis (Forst.) — THE GREATER 



SNOW-GOOSE. 



Anas nivalis Forster, Philos. Trans., lxii, p. 433 (1772 — Severn R., 



Hudson Bay, Canada). 



Chen nivalis Forster, Sharpe, Bull. B.O.C., x, p. xv. 



Distribution. — Ireland. — One, Belmullet (Mayo) Oct., 1886 {ut 

 supra ; c/. R. J. Ussher, List Irish Birds, p. 33 ; Brit. B., n, p. 27). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in north Greenland and EUesmere 

 Land, though full range is unknown ; on passage and in winter in 

 eastern America, south to Louisiana, Florida and even Porto Rico. 

 Replaced by A. h. hyperboreus in western North America and arctic 

 east Asia. 



BRANTA RUFICOLLIS* 



281. Branta ruficollis (Pall.)— THE RED-BREASTED GOOSE. 



Anser ruficollis Pallas, Spicilegia Zool., fasc. vi, p. 21, pi. iv (1769 — 



S. Russia). 



Bernicla ruficollis (Pallas), Yarrell, iv, p. 281 ; Saunders, p. 407. 



Distribution. — England. — Very rare vagrant. One near London 

 early 1776. One near WyclifPe (Yorks.) about same time. One 

 Berwick-on-Tweed (Northumberland), 1818. One Maldon (Essex), 

 Jan. 6, 1871. Two said to have been got south Devon, and one 

 Norfolk (Saunders, p. 407). One Severn (Gloucester), Nov. 18, 190^ 

 {Brit. B., Ill, p. 376). Others recorded, but not substantiated. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — ^Nests in tundras of western Siberia ; 



* Bernicla is often quoted as a genus of Brisson, but BrLsson never 

 established such a genus. The name Branta (Scopoli, 1709) must therefore 

 be used— E.H. 



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