CHAP, xiii.] ERRONEOUS NOMENCLATURE. 431 



scribing the China Goose, he says, " Our last voyagers 

 met also with this, or one very like it, at Owhyhee," and 

 quotes " A Goose, like the China Goose, at Karacakooa 

 Bay, in Owhyhee, quite tame, called there Na-na." * 



In Gray's edition of Cuvier (1829) the error is still 

 continued. " Other Geese have been named, but are 

 doubtful, as Anas Cana, Cape of Good Hope," con- 

 founding Dr. Latham's confusion of the China Goose 

 with some bird native of South Africa. 



The Sandwich Bernicle, in truth, has been but little 

 observed by voyagers, and a description of its habitat 

 in great measure accounts for the omission. " On our 

 visit to the sulphur banks we saw two flocks of wild 

 Geese, which came down from the mountains, and 

 settled among the Ohelo bushes, near the pools of water. 

 They were smaller than the common Goose, had brown 

 necks, and [the feathers of] their wings were tipped 

 with the same colour. The natives informed us there 

 were vast flocks in the interior, although they were 

 never seen near the sea."f 



It is hardly irrelevant to append to this Mr. Williams 's 

 remarks on Natural History in general. "It is to me a 

 matter of regret, that scientific men, when writing upon 

 these subjects, do not avail themselves of the facts which 

 Missionaries might supply ; for, while we make no 

 pretensions to great scientific attainments, we do not 

 hesitate to assert that it is in our power to furnish more 

 substantial data on which to philosophize than could be 

 obtained by any transient visitor, however profound in 

 knowledge, or diligent in research." J 



* Ellis's Narr., ii. p. 143. 



f Ellis's Missionary Tour through Hawaii. 



J Missionary Enterprises, p. 203. 



