BBANTA RTIFICOLLIS 109 



(19) BRANTA RUFICOLLIS. 



THE EED-BREASTED GOOSE. 



Anser ruficollis, Pulhis, Spicil. Znol. vi, p. 21 (1769) (South Russia). 

 Branta ruficollis, Bengal Hportiiuj Mckj. 1836, vii, p. 247 : Bluth, Ihis, 



1^'^70, p. 176; Gates, Game-B. ii, p. 78; Salcadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, 



p. 124 ; Stuart Baker, J. B. X //. 8. xvi ; Hartcrt, Yog. Pal. p. 1299 



(1020). 

 Rufibrenta ruficollis, Alpheraki/, Geese, p. 140; Stuart Baker, Indian 



Ducks, p. 89 (1908). 



Description. Adult Male.— " Entire crown and liiud-neck black; the 

 black of the crown extends through the eye to the chin and throat, leaving 

 a large round white patch between the eye and the bill ; on the ear-coverts 

 a chestnut angular patch, surrounded with white, ending in a white band 

 down the sides of the neck ; neck and upper breast rich chestnut, surrounded 

 below by a white narrow band ; back, rump, lower breast, and upper 

 abdomen black; upper tail-coverts, lower abdomen, and under tail-coverts 

 wliite ; flanks white, with black bands at the tip of the feathers ; wings 

 brown-black, tlie upper coverts with pale edgings, which on the middle and 

 greater wing-coverts form two greyish bands ; tail black; ' bill almost black ; 

 irides hazel ; legs and feet dark-brown, almost black.' {Saiaiders)." 

 (Salradori.) 



The Female only differs from the male in being somewhat smaller, the 

 colours are equally bright. 



Youn^ birds in second year. — " Sliiny-black of plumage replaced by 

 brown : instead of a rufous patch in the aural region, a similar grey- 

 l)ro\vn one, with more or less admixture of rufous plumules, the whole 

 patch being of indefinite outline, mingling with the surrounding whitish (not 

 white) streak. As regards the rufous colouring of the anterior part of neck 

 and upper breast, it can only be said that it is a lighter (rufous-buff) than 

 in adult birds. White transverse bar, bordering interiorly the rufous of 

 upper breast, less definite, and no black margin between this and the rufous, 

 or only in the shape of a fe\v black-brown plumules. 



" Tail-feathers with very narrow white or whitish tips. Under side of 

 wings and axillaries grey-brown. 



" Feathering on chin with a large admixture of white featherlets, giving 

 it a finely mottled appearance. 



" Tips of greater wing-coverts light buff ; consequently both transverse 

 bars across the wing are of this colour and not white." (Alpheraki/.) 



