376 GOOSE 



the Bernacle-Goose is easily distinguished by its larger size and 

 Avhite cheeks. Hutchins's Goose, B. hutchinsi, seems to be its true 

 representative in the New World. In this the face is dark, but a 

 white crescentic or triangular patch extends from the throat on 

 either side upwards behind the eye. Almost exactly similar in 

 coloration to the last, but greatly superior in size, and possessing 

 18 rectrices, while all the foregoing have but 16, is the common 

 wild Goose of America, B. canadensis, which, for some two centuries 

 or more, has been introduced into Europe, where it propagates so 

 freely that it has been included by nearly all the ornithologists of 

 this quarter of the globe as a member of its fauna. An allied 

 form, by some deemed a species, is B. leucopareia, which ranges over 

 the western part of North America, and, though having 1 8 rectrices, 

 is distinguished by a white collar round the lower part of the neck. 

 The most diverse species of this group of Geese are the beautiful 

 B. ruficoUis, a native of North-eastern Asia, which has occasionally 

 strayed to Egypt ^ and Western Europe, and has been obtained 

 more than once in Britain, and that which is peculiar to the 

 Hawaiian archipelago, B. sandvicensis. 



The largest living Goose is that called the Chinese, Guinea, or 

 Swan -Goose, Cygnojpsis cygnoides, and it seems to be the stock 

 whence the domestic Geese of several Eastern countries have 

 sprung. It may not unfrequently be seen in English farmyards, 

 and it is found to cross readily with our common tame Goose, the 

 offspring being fertile, and Blyth has said that these crosses are very 

 abundant in India. The true home of the species is in Eastern 

 Siberia or Mongolia. It is distinguished by its upright bearing, 

 Avhich has been well rendered by Bewick's figiu-e. The Ganders of 

 the reclaimed form are distinguished by the knob at the base of the 

 bill, but the evidence of many observers shews that this is not found 

 in the wild race. Of this bird there is a perfectly white breed. 



Lastly must be mentioned the curious form Cereopsis, with its 

 apparently exaggerated ally the extinct Cnemiornis of New Zealand, 

 a bird of great size and, as said before (p. 82), unable from the 

 shortness of its wings to fly. In connexion with this loss of power 

 may also be noted the dwindling of the keel of the sternum. 



Birds of the genera Chenalopex (the Egyptian and Orinoco 



Geese), Plectropterus, Sarcidiornis, Chlamydochen, and some others, 



are commonly called Geese. To the writer it seems almost certain 



that they are allied to the Sheld-drake. The males of all appear to 



have that curious enlargement at the junction of the bronchial 



. tubes and the trachea which is so characteristic of the Ducks or 



,icN Anatinse and is wanting in the Anserinx or true Geese. As much 



fV^/ may be said for the genus NettapViS. 



^ Its portraits are recognizable in what is said to be one of the oldest pictures 

 in the world see (Introduction). 



