468 Anatidce. 



182. CANADA GOOSE (Anser Canadensis). 

 The last-mentioned species was a straggler from Africa. This 

 is no less rare as an occasional and very unfrequent visitor to the 

 British Isles from America, in the north of which continent, and 

 in Hudson's Bay, Greenland, and the regions still farther north, 

 it is found in very great numbers, where it has proved a welcome 

 source of provision to Arctic explorers, as well as to the fur- 

 traders and voyageurs of the territories of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, to whom it is universally known as the 'Common 

 Gray Goose.' 



For its occurrence in Wiltshire I am indebted to the pen of 

 Mr. Henry Blackmore, of Salisbury, who thus records its app< ar 

 ance in that very useful periodical, the Zoologist: 'On Monday, 

 the 21st of January, 1867, a fine specimen of the Canada or 

 Cravat Goose (Anser Canadensis) was shot in a meadow at 

 Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire, by Mr. Crosse, of the same place. 1 1 

 came into my possession the following day, and on dissection 

 proved to be a male bird, weight twelve pounds. Another u as 

 shot in the same locality on Saturday, the 26th of January, and 

 was purchased by Mr. Marsh, of Ramridge House, for his 

 collection. This specimen appeared to me to be the saw in 

 every respect as the one I have (a male bird in equally rood 

 plumage and condition). Mr. Whatman, of this city, told me 

 that he had seen a flock of these birds on the 19th instant in a 

 meadow at Homington, which is the adjoining village to Coon i he 

 Bissett, where the two birds were killed. From inquiries 1 IIMVC 

 since made, I cannot learn that these birds were kept on ny 

 ornamental water or lake in the neighbourhood; it may then -fun- 

 be deduced that they are bond fide specimens of the bird in its 

 natural state.'* The Rev. A. P. Morres wrote me word that h<- 

 had himself seen the flock of seven from which the aU>\<> 

 specimens were shot, and that they remained for some tinx- in 

 ithe Britford water-meadows. But this again is a spec'u 

 attractive appearance, which is frequently kept on ornamental 



Zoologist Second Series, April, 1867, p. 709. 



