BIRDS—ANSERINAE—BERNICLA, 763 
species, leaving the question of its relationship to be settled by fuller information respecting 
the American geese generally. 
List of specimens. 
. 
Catal. Number. Locality. Whence obtained. 
9957 Selkirk settlement.........--. Ree ennicOtten.sstencswasciescee= 
9953 HOTtWUNOL sesesenienecestee eee Dre Henny seeccescajecnsisccaie= aa 
| BERNICLA, Stephens. 
Bernicla, StepHENS, Shaw’s Gen. Zool. XII, 1, 1824, 45. Type Anas bernicla, Linn. 
Lewcopareia, Reicu. Syst. Avium, Int. 1853, pl. ix. Type Anser leucopsis, Bou. 
Cu.—Bill about as long as head or shorter; the commissure nearly straight; the teeth of upper mandible concealed, except 
perhaps at the base. Bill and legs black. 
The American geese, with black bills and legs, exhibit very great variations in size; so much 
so, indeed, as to render it very difficult to distinguish them by this character alone. The 
variation in the shade of plumage in the same species is likewise considerable. 
Synopsis of species. 
A. Leucostepuaron, Baird.—Head and neck black. A large triangular patch behind the 
eye, usually broadly confluent with its fellow beneath, the upper angle truncate, A few whitish 
feathers on lower eyelid. 
Tail of eighteen feathers. 
Bill elongated ; as broad at the base as height of upper mandible. Length of 
culmen equal to the head, and nearly two-thirds the tarsus, which is equal to 
the middle toe without its claw. Under parts ashy brown, passing almost 
insensibly into white about anus. No white ring on throat............ canadensis. 
Bill short ; broader at the base than height of upper mandible. Culmen shorter 
than head, about half the tarsus, which is longer than middle toe and claw. 
Under parts dark brown, abruptly defined against white of the anal region. 
A distinct white ring on lower GATOR Erk Ssavcas eterna cet atere: .. .leucopareta. 
Tail of sixteen feathers. 
Similar to canadensis, but much smaller.........sscesssecssscceseceeescereecceeesMUtChinsit. 
B. Brrnicua, Steph.—Head, neck, and jugulum, black. Middle of neck with a white 
crescent on each side. Bill shorter than the head. 
Crescents of neck distinct. Upper parts brown, edged with paler. Beneath 
grayish, sharply defined against the black of jugulum............ Meseae ences sORCiLls 
Crescents of neck confluent beneath. Above uniform brown; belly nearly as 
blackoaspjuculums.....ce..c+once-: Rens ccwineestcs sess Race ceshioccesesestecssonseeaste nigricans. 
C. Lxvcopareta, Reich.—Head, neck, and jugulum, black. Forehead, cheeks, and chin, 
white. 
Feathers above ash color, terminated broadly with blackish and tipped with 
white. Under parts nearly pure white.........cscsseseres seoarsecseeseesesnsslCUCOPSIS. 
