474 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



It was seeu breeding abuudautly by ^Ir. MacFarlaue near tlie Arctic Ocean. Some 

 of the nests were found on small islets in fresh-water ponds ; others on islands in 

 the Anderson, near its mouth ; and many others either on the shore or on islands 

 in Franklin Bay, or other parts of the Arctic Sea. In some eases the nest was noth- 

 ing more than a mere depression lined with down ; but in some the quantity of down 

 was quite large. The number of eggs in a nest was generally five ; but in one case 

 as many as seven were seen, and in six or seven instances six. 



On the coast of Norton Sound, Alaska, as observed by Mr. E. Adams (" Ibis," 

 1878), these Geese were observed to arrive in the middle of May in great numbers. 

 They were first noticed on the 12th. They keep much more to the sea than the other 

 Geese, and large flocks are only seeu inland near their breeding-jjlaces. They keep 

 along the coast, out of shot, and in the spring their line of flight is directly north. 

 They breed in the southern marshes with the Hutchins's Goose, the natives collect- 

 ing their eggs at the end of June, and bringing them by boat-loads to Michalaski. 

 Mr. Adams regards the eggs as being by no means good eating, since they are rank 

 and fishy ; but the Russians consider tliem excellent. 



Examples were taken in large numbers on the Yukon by Mr. Ivennicott, and after- 

 ward by Mr. T. Lockliart. ]\Ir. ilacFarlane found it breeding in abundance on islands 

 northeast of the nioiitli of Anderson Eiver, in Liverpool Bay on the Arctic coast, on 

 Franklin Bay, on various other parts of the coast, and especially in regions west of 

 Anderson Eiver. 



Eggs of this species from Liverpool Bay (Smithsonian Institution. Xo. 9183) are 

 of a dull ivory-white, or a grayish-white color, and range in length from 2.75 to 2.90 

 inches, and in breadth from 1.80 to 1.85 inches. 



Branta leiicopsis. 



THE BARNACLE GOOSE. 



Anser Intcopsis, Bechst. Tasclib. 1803, 424. — Nutt. Mau. II. 1834, 355. — Aup. Oni. Biog. III. 



1835, 609, III. 296 ; Synop. 1839, 271 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 200, pi. 378. 

 Anas leiicopsis, Te.m.m. Man. 1813, ,o31. 

 Beniida kiicopsis, BoiE, Isis, 1822, 563. — Baird, B. N. Am. IS.iS, 768 ; Cat X. Am. B. 1859, no. 



572. — RlDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 597. — CoUES, Check List, 2il ed. 1882, no. 699. 

 Branta Uiicopsis, Bannist. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1870, 131. —Codes, Key, 1872, 283 ; Check 



List, 1873, no. 483 ; Birds X. AV. 1874, 558. 



Hab. Palrearctic Region ; casual in Eastern North America (Hudson's Bay and Jamaica 

 Bay, Long Island, specimens in U. S. Xational Museum; Currituck Sound, IST. C; cf. Lawr. 

 Am. Nat. V. 1871, 10). 



Sp. Char. Adult (No. 49788. Hudson's Bay Territory ; B. E. Ross) : Anterior portion of the 

 back, jugnluni, neck, and occiput, to nearl}' above the eyes, uniform deep black, the posterior out- 

 line uf which on the jugulum is very regular .and sharply defined. Head mostly white, with a 

 black stripe from the upper basal angle of the bill to the eye. Lower parts grayish white, becom- 

 ing dark cinereous on the sides ami flanks, where the feathers are broadly tipped %\dth grayish 

 white. Anal region, crissum, and upper tail-coverts immaculate pure white. Interscapulars, 

 rump, and tail uniform black ; scapulars black, their concealed bases slate-color. Wing-coverts 

 glaucous-ash, broadly tijjped (for about .65 of an inch) with black, the last row (" greater coverts ") 

 conspicuously tipped witli white. Secondaries and primaries brownish slate-black, fading basally 

 into slaty ash. Bill and feet deep black. Wing, 16.50 inches ; tail, 6.00 ; culmen, 1.20 ; bill .80 

 wide and deep at base ; tarsu.s, 2.75 ; middle toe, 1.90. 



Two European specimens in the National Collection differ from that described above — which is 

 the only American example of the species we have seen — in the nuich lighter color ol the upper 



