BRITISH BIRDS. 141 



Another, shot in Somerset in January, 1888, was identified 

 by Mr. Cecil Smith, but he appears to have been doubtful 

 whether it was an escaped bird or not. 



GENUS CXI. CHEN, Bole (1822). 



207. Chen hyperboreus (Pallas). LESSER 

 SNOW GOOSE. 



Hab. Western Arctic America and N.E. Asia. In 

 winter migrating southward ; straggling to British Isles. 



Three examples were shot in Wexford in 1871 ; two 

 more taken alive from a flock of seven in Co. Mayo in 

 1877 ; one observed by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson in 

 Cumberland in 1884; and one shot in Co. Mayo in 

 1 886 ; finally the species occurred in small flocks in 

 Northumberland, Yorks and Cumberland in winter of 

 1890 i. 



- In B. O. U. List it bears the name of C. albatus 

 (Cassin), but it has since been shown that this must 

 give place to Pallas's earlier name (hyperboreus) conferred 

 on specimens obtained in Asia. A larger sub-species 

 inhabits Eastern Arctic America, but none of British 

 specimens have been referred to this race. 



GENUS CXII. BRANTA, Scopoli (1769). 



Bill considerably shorter and narrower than in Anser j 

 not nearly so long as head, and higher than wide at base. 



208. Branta berniela (Pallas). BRENT GOOSE. 



Hab. Northern Palcearctic and North-eastern Nearctic 

 regions, breeding within Arctic Circle. -In winter migratory. 



Male : head, neck and upper breast black, except a 

 small white semi-collar on each side of neck ; mantle 

 feathers blackish-brown with paler margins ; rump black ; 



