A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 131 



previously Cumberland side ; said to have been seen other occasions 

 in Solway (Birds Dumfries., p. 248). Reported as seen Northum- 

 berland, Yorks., and Gloucester winter 1890-1 (Saunders, p. 405), 

 Norfolk, autumn, 1909, and Essex April and May, 1911 (cf. Brit. B., 

 iv, p. 28, v, pp. 25, 139), but some of these later examples may have 

 been escapes from captivity. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Eastern Arctic Asia and western Arctic 

 America. On passage and in winter in western North America, 

 southwards to Lower California and Mexico ; in Asia south to Japan ; 

 in Europe observed in several countries, such as Norway, Holland, 

 France, Heligoland, Germany, and probably elsewhere even, 

 perhaps, in Greece. Replaced by A. h. nivalis in eastern North 

 America. 



280. Anser hyperboreus nivalis (Forst.) THE GREATER 

 SNOW-GOOSE. 



ANAS NIVALIS Forster, Philos. Trans., LXII, p. 433 (1772 Severn R., 



Hudson Bay, Canada). 



Chen nivalis Forster, Sharpe, Bull. B.O.C., x, p. xv. 



DISTRIBUTION. Ireland. One, Belmullet (Mayo) Oct., 1886 (ut 

 supra ; cf. R. J. Ussher, List Irish Birds, p. 33 ; Brit. B., n, p. 27). 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Breeds in north Greenland and Ellesmere 

 Land, though full range is unknown ; on passage and in winter in 

 eastern America, south to Louisiana, Florida and even Porto Rico. 

 Replaced by A. h. hyperboreus in western North America and arctic 

 east Asia. 



BRANTA RUFICOLLIS* 



281. Branta ruficollis (Pall.) THE RED-BREASTED GOOSE. 



ANSER RUFICOLLIS Pallas, Spicilegia Zool., fasc. vi, p. 21, pi. iv (1769 



S. Russia). 



Bernicla ruficollis (Pallas), Yarrell, iv, p. 281 ; Saunders, p. 407. 



DISTRIBUTION. England. Very rare vagrant. One near London 

 early 1776. One near Wycliflfe (Yorks.) about same time. One 

 Berwick-on-Tweed (Northumberland), 1818. One Maldon (Essex), 

 Jan. 6, 1871. Two said to have been got south Devon, and one 

 Norfolk (Saunders, p. 407). One Severn (Gloucester), Nov. 18, 1909 

 (Brit. B., in, p. 376). Others recorded, but not substantiated. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Nests in tundras of western Siberia ; 



* Bernicla is often quoted as a genus of Brisson, bub Brisson never 

 established such a genus. The name Branta (Scopoli, 1769) must therefore 

 be used E.H. 



K 2 



