142 BRITISH BIRDS. 



upper and under tail-coverts white ; tail and wing-quills 

 black ; belly and sides dark slate ; bill black ; feet 

 brownish-black. Length 23*00. Female : similar but 

 slightly smaller. 



A common winter visitor to all parts of the British 

 coasts, but particularly the eastern side ; also frequently 

 seen inland ; it is quite the commonest of our wild geese. 



208a. Branta berniela glaueogaster (Brehm). 



WHITE-BELLIED GOOSE. 



Hab. Arctic regions. In winter migrating southward. 

 Distinguished from the typical bird by having the belly 

 whitish. It occurs in our islands as a winter visitor. 



209. Branta leueopsis (Beeh.). BERNICLE GOOSE. 



Hab. Arctic regions of Old World and Greenland ; 

 probably breeding very far north. In winter southward. 



Readily distinguished from B. brenta by its having 

 forehead, sides of head and chin white, excepting a black 

 patch on the lores ; mantle pale grey barred with black, 

 and abdomen paler ; otherwise much the same but larger. 



A common winter visitor, chiefly to the west side and to 

 Ireland. 



210. Branta rufieollis (Pallas). RED-BREASTED 



GOOSE. 



Hab. Eastern Siberia. 



Has occurred five times on the east coast of England, 

 also twice in Devon and once in Scotland. 



GENUS CXIII. CYGNUS, Becfrstein (1809). 



Bill about as long as head, higher than broad at base, 

 depressed towards tip. Neck veiy long, slender. 



