Interior of British North America. 145 



of the Canada Goose is about 36 inches ; therefore, if any one 

 can secure a specimen measuring even 40 in. before skinning, I 

 think he will have hit upon the Large Goose — call it barnstonii 

 or leucolcema. The North American Geese are, however, in a 

 *' very hazy condition," to use Mr. Ross's words, who, writing 

 from Mackenzie River, in a letter dated June 1, 1862 (which Mr. 

 Murray has kindly allowed me the perusal of), remarks on the 

 subject thus : — " As to the specific arrangement of the Bernicla, 

 the more I study the matter, the greater appears the uncertainty. 

 My opinion is, that either the B. canadensis, leucomelia [sic], 

 barnstonii, hutchinsii, parvipes, leucopareia are only varieties, or 

 else that more species will be required than those named above. 

 The number of tail-feathers does not, I consider, form a spe- 

 cific distinction of any great value." He then adduces some 

 instances of discrepancies in this way, and concludes by saying, 

 that, although he has obtained a second specimen of J5. barnstonii, 

 which measured 38 inches in length and 19 inches in the wing, 

 and, besides the bright fawn-colour waved with lavender, had 

 " the confluence of the white cheek-patches under the throat ex- 

 tended to the rami of the lower jaw, and there were two white 

 spots over as well as under the eyes," while its back was of a 

 darker shade than the typical B. canadensis, yet he is doubtful of 

 its specific identity. I have consequently placed a mark of 

 interrogation against the specific name. 



Bernicla brenta. 



This, I believe, is quite an Eastern American bird. The ' Fauna 

 Bor.-Am.' gives the habitat as the coasts and islands of Hud- 

 son's Bay and the Arctic Sea ; and I have received a specimen 

 from Hudson's Bay myself. Mr. Barnston {' Ibis,' vol. ii. p. 

 255) considers it a salt-water bird. The Black Brant {B. nigri- 

 cans) takes its place on the Pacific shore, which Mr. Boss, from 

 information he has received, thinks may be found on the Yukon 

 River, which drains the opposite slope of the Rocky Mountains 

 to the Mackenzie. 



106. Anas boschas. 



Besides my specimens ('Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 9) from the Saskatcha- 

 wan, I have received the Mallard from Hudson's Bay; and it is 



