BI'RNICLA DISPAR. \:>:\ 



Republic. It is an inhabitant of the high Andes of Peru and 

 Bolivia, and is also found throughout the central provinces of Chili, 

 descending to the plains in the winter. Its native name is " Piuquen" 

 and it is said to be so abundant on a lagoon near the Portello Pass 

 between Mendoza and Santiago that the spot is called " Valle de los 

 Piuquenes." 





336. BEENICLA DISPAR, Ph. et Landb. 

 (BARRED UPLAND GOOSE.) 



Bernicla dispar, Burmeister, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 366 (Sierra Tinta, Rio Negro). 

 Bernicla antarctica, Burm. La-Tlata Reise, ii. p. 514 (err.). Chloephaga 

 dispar, Scl. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 334 (Chili). Bernicla magellanica, Set. 

 P, Z. S. 1872, p. 549 (Rio Negro) ; Durnf. Ibis, 1878, p. 400 (Chupat). 

 Chloephaga magellanica, Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 273 (Carhue"). 



Description. White ; neck behind and body beneath banded with black ; 

 primaries, greater wing-coverts, tertiaries, and scapulars cinereous ; rump and 

 tail-feathers ashy black ; bill black ; feet dark plumbeous : whole length 26-0 

 inches, wing 16*0, tail 5*5. Female', head and neck cinnamon-brown; abdo- 

 men similar, passing into white on the crissum, and altogether barred with 

 black ; upper back also barred ; rump and tail-feathers brownish black. 



Hab. Chili and Argentina. 



This bird is a northern form of the well-known " Upland Goose " of 

 the Falkland Islands and Southern Patagonia, from which it differs in 

 the male being completely barred across with black on the lower surface. 

 It was first described by Philippi and Landbeck from Chilian specimens, 

 and in 1872 recognized by Dr. Burmeister as found near the Sierra 

 Tandil and on the Rio Negro. 



In April and May this Goose migrates northwards, along the eastern 

 coast, as far as the pampas of Buenos Ayres, the migration ending about 

 one hundred and fifty miles south of Buenos Ayres city. Further south 

 they are at this season of the year excessively abundant in suitable 

 localities. Their great camping-grounds are the valleys of the rivers 

 Negro and Colorado, where they are often so numerous as to denude 

 the low grounds of the tender winter clovers and grasses, and to cause 

 serious loss to the sheep-breeders. They also visit the cultivated fields 

 to devour the young wheat, and are intelligent enough to distinguish 

 between a real human enemy and the ragged men of straw, miscalled 

 scarecrows, set up by the farmers to frighten them. While com- 

 mitting their depredations they are exceedingly wary and difficult to 

 shoot, but at night, when they congregate by the water-side, they give 

 the sportsman a better chance. I have succeeded in killing as many as 



