RED-BREASTED GOOSE 67 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
TOTAL LENGTH ... a5 we B28) “in. 
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BEAK ore Sk ae ce, ee S.3 
'TARSO-MSTATARSUS ee TE OI, Siw 
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Allied Species and Representative Forms.—C. caerulescens 
is a variety of Snow-Goose which exhibits dull bluish-grey 
shading over parts of the plumage. C. rossi is a very small 
form and C. nivalis is a large form of Snow-Goose. 
RED-BREASTED GOOSE. Bernicla ruficollis (Pallas). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. v, pl. 6; 
Dresser, ‘Birds of Europe,’ vol. vi, pl. 416; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. vii, pl. 25; Alpheraky, ‘ Geese 
of Kurope and Asia,’ pl. 15. 
This, the least in size of the British Geese, is only a 
rare visitor to our shores, but, if once seen, it should attract 
attention by its richly coloured plumage. 
Mr. Saunders gives seven instances of its occurrence in 
England, and three birds have been preserved. The data of 
captures are as follows:—One was obtained near London 
in the winter of 1776; it is preserved in the Museum of 
Neweastle-on-Tyne. 
Another was killed near Berwick-on-Tweed, in 1818, 
and is preserved in the British Museum. The third speci- 
men 1s in the possession of Mr. Marshall of Norton Manor, 
Taunton, having been sent from Maldon, in Essex, on 
January 6th, 1871. The remaining records are :—'l'wo from 
Devon, one from Norfolk, one from Yorkshire. 
It is very doubtful if the Red-breasted Goose has ever 
occurred in Ireland. Mr. Ussher excludes it from the Irish 
fauna in the ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ so did the late Mr. A. G. 
More, in the last edition of his ‘List of Irish Birds,’ 
published in, 1890. 
Like most other species of Geese, the Red-breasted is 
gregarious and easily tamed. 
