452 Zoological Society :— 
Totus pure cinereus, singulis plumis annulis alternantibus 
albidis et nigrescentibus tenuissime notatis; striga supra- 
oculart a loris inde ad aures usque producta alba; epigastrio 
pallidiore ; abdomine imo crisso et crurihus flavescenti-albidis ; 
remigibus nigro-fuscescentibus pogonio interno ferrugineo-ful- 
vescente fasciatis ; cauda dorso concolore, distinctius transver- 
sim lineolata; rectricibus duabus intermediis unicoloribus, reli- 
quis fasciis duabus latis nigris ante apicem notatis, omnibus sub- 
tus pallidioribus ; rostro et pedibus nigris ; iride obscure grisea, 
Long. tot. circa 28"; rost. a nar. 13; al. 12’; caud. 10"; 
tars. 5! 2'"; dig. med, 2"; dig. int. 1 3!"; dig. ext. 1" 5"; pollic. 7”, 
REMARKS ON THE ANAS (ANSER) ERYTHROPUS OF LINNa&US. 
By Atrrep Newron, M.A., F.Z.S. 
The determination of the species established by Linneeus has 
always been held by naturalists a matter of so great importance, 
that I have no scruple in occupying a portion of your time this 
evening with a few remarks respecting the bird which, in the 12th 
edition of his ‘Systema Nature’ is designated by the name of 
** Anas erythropus ;’’ especially also as one of his editors (the late 
learned Professor Retzius), though noticing the “mira circa hance 
avem confusio,” has, in my opinion, failed to give a satisfactory 
solution of the difficulty. It will be, I think, universally admitted 
that the names employed by Linnzus, when, as in the present in- 
stance, they are drawn from any physical character, are remarkably 
apposite. This consideration of itself should have served as a warn- 
ing to ornithologists against their imagining, as many have done, 
that he could possibly mean to apply the name ‘‘ erythropus”’ to a 
species like the Bernicle Goose, with which he was sufficiently 
familiar, and to which it was in no degree suitable. 
It will, perhaps, be convenient to examine first on what founda- 
tion * Anus erythropus’’ was established. 
In the 12th edition of the ‘Systema Naturee ’ (Holmiz, 1766) we 
find (vol. i. pars 1. pp. 197-8) the species as the eleventh in order 
of the genus Anas, and the account given is :— 
‘‘A., cinerea, fronte alba. Faun. Svec. 116.” [I omit all the syno- 
nymsborrowed from other authors. | ‘Rostrum rudrum. Pedes rubri.” 
Now these latter characters clearly can have no reference to the 
Bernicle Goose, even if that species were not elsewhere included as 
Anas bernicla, var. (3. 
Turning then to the edition of the ‘ Fauna Suecica’ cited (Stock- 
holmiz, 1761), we have (p. 41) as follows :— 
“116. Anas erythropus cinerea ; fronte alba. Fn. 92....... 
Anser cinereus ferus, torque inter oculos et rostrum albo, erythropus. 
W. Botniensibus Fjeell-gas. Habitat in Helsingia, Lapponiz alpibus,” 
To this succeeds a description of the male, which I admit is open 
to objection ; but the matter, in my opinion, is rendered conclusive 
by the description of the female, which, in the edition of the ‘ Fauna 
Suecica’ here referred to, and published fifteen years previously 
(Lugd. Bat. 1746), is alone given. It is this :— 
** Rostrum sordide carneum, frons alba, Caput, collum, dorsum, 
