THE RED-BREASTED GOOSE. 77 



best American authorities, however, think it must be regarded as an entirely local 

 species. 



Mr. Herrick found the Snow-Goose most abundant at Lake Shatek, the source 

 of the Des Moines river, Iowa. They proved exceedingly wary and hard to get 

 near. Their food in the autumn is said to consist chiefly of wild rice and various 

 berries earlier they feed on aquatic and marsh vegetation, including snails and 

 insects. 



In the report of " The Death Valley Expedition," California, Dr. Fisher says : 

 " A flock of Snow- Geese was seen by Mr. Nelson about Morro Bay, in November, 

 1891. Mr. Bailey found this species common, in flocks, in Virgin Valley, where 

 it was first observed near Bunkerville, Nev., January 23rd, 1889. They frequented 

 the shores of Virgin river, where they fed on the bleached stems and tender roots 

 of a small club-rush. The gullets of two individuals secured, contained nothing 

 except the remains of this plant." 



This Goose probably occurs more frequently on the shores of the British 

 Islands, and in Europe, than is generally supposed. 



Family ANA TIDAL. 



RED-BREASTED GOOSE. 



Bernicla ruficollis, PALLAS. 



HALF a century since, little was known of the habits and migrations of this 

 most beautiful Goose, and it was one of the rarest birds in European 

 collections. 



The Red-breasted Goose, or Red-breasted Bernacle, was first recorded by the 

 naturalist Pallas, (1769). Pennant, in his "Arctic Zoology," quoting from the 

 " Russian Explorer," says, the breeding range of this Goose extends from the 



