782 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Mr. Newton first showed that this little Goose was the true 

 erythropus of Linnasus, and that this name had been improperly 

 applied to the last species. Captain Irby mentions having observed 

 this Goose in Oiidh. It is chiefly an inhabitant of Northern 

 Europe, is occasionally taken in Central Europe, and is said not to 

 be uncommon in Greece. It also inhabits Northern and Central Asia. 



The next species has been sometimes placed under Bemicla, 

 Stephens, and latterly has been separated as Eulaheia by Reichen- 

 bach. It appears to be intermediate between the Bernacle Geese 

 and the true Geese, and I shall not give it distinct generic rank. 



The teeth of the mandible are distinctly visible at the base, 

 which they are not in true Bernicla, the bill is larger and the feet 

 are reddish. 



949. Anser indicus, Gmelin. 



Blytu, Cat. 1757— Jerdon, Cat. 375— Gould, Cent. Him. 

 Birds, ph 80. 



The Barred-headed Goose. 



Descr. — Head white, with two blackish bars on the occiput and 

 nape ; back of neck hair brown, sides of neck white ; upper plumage 

 very pale ashy, the feathers edged with whitish and tinged 

 with pale reddish-brown ; lower back and rump pure pale ashy- 

 grey, sides of the rump and upper tail-coverts whitish ; tail grey, 

 white tipped ; wing-coverts pure ashy ; quills grey, dusky towards 

 the tip, and gradually becoming darker on the secondaries ; 

 tertials brownish-grey ; beneath, the chin and throat white ; neck 

 brownish-ashy, passing gradually into cinereous on the breast, 

 whitish on the upper abdomen and the lower abdomen ; vent and 

 under tail-coverts white ; flanks cinnamon-brown with pale edgings. 



Bill yellow ; irides brown ; legs orange. Length 27 inches ; 

 wing 17 ; tail G ; bill at front 2 ; tarsus 2f ; mid-toe 2| ; weight 

 7 to 8 lbs. 



This Goose appears to be peculiar to India, and probably the 

 adjacent countries north of the Himalayas, where it breeds, as 

 it is not recorded by Pallas as a bird of Northern or Central 

 Asia. It is chiefly a winter visitant to India, arriving in Northern 

 India towards the end of October or beginning of November, and 



