296 Catalogue of Birds. 



244. Bernicla Canadensis (Linn.). Canada Goose. 



245. " Hutcliinsii (Rich.). Hutchins' Goose. 



246. " orenta (Stephens). Brant. 



247. " nigricans (Lawr.). Black Brant. 



There is a fine specimen of this species, rare on the Atlantic 

 coast, in the Museum of the L. I. Historical Society, which was 

 obtained on Long Island. It breeds in the Slave Lake region 

 at the north, and migrates across the Rocky Mountains to the 

 p acific coast ; an occasional straggler only coming eastward. 



248. Anas bo§chas, Linn. Mallard. 



249. " maxima, Gosse. Green-backed mallard. 

 This large duck described as a distinct species by Gosse, 



Birds of Jamaica, p. 399, and afterwards by Mr. J. G. Bell, 

 under the name of Fuligula viola, in our Annals, is thought by 

 many to be a cross between the mallard (A. boschas) and the 

 muscovy (Cairina mosehata). It may be a hybrid, but I do 

 not consider its being so to be fully established by the evidence. 

 As they come from the north their origin would necessarily be 

 a domestic one, as C. mosehata does not occur in a wild state 

 north of Mexico, yet I have never heard of any in a state of 

 domestication ; all have been shot wild. In th >se that I have 

 seen there is quite a uniformity of coloration somewhat resem- 

 bling that of the mallard, but not in any respect like the mus- 

 covy duck; the bill is precisely as in the Genus Anas, and not 

 at all like that of C. mosehata ; neither are there any caruncles, 

 or bare spaces on the sides of the head, or white on the wings 

 as in the muscovy. A mongrel breed, between the domestic 

 duck (of which the mallard is the origin) and the muscovy, is of 

 common occurrence in our barn yards, which shows unmistak- 

 able marks of the parentage. My conclusion, therefore, is that 

 if it be a hybrid the muscovy must be rejected, and no other 

 presents itself of which the product could be so large, much 

 exceeding in size that of the mallard. I have a pair shot a few- 

 years ago, late in November, at South Hempstead, L. I. ; one 



