ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — PHILACTE. 



477 



frontal feathers. The feet are also somewhat peculiar, the tarsus being proportionally shorter, and 

 the toes longer, than in other genera. From the South American genus (Jldcepliaga, with which 

 it has been associated, it is as far removed structurally as geographically. 



The only known species is the beautiful Painted, or Emperor Goose of Alaska, said to have 

 been found also on the Caspian Sea. 



■;V\ x\. 



Philacte canagica. 



Philacte canagica. 



THE EMPEKOE GOOSE. 



Anas canagica, Sevast. X. Act. Petrop. XIII. ISOO, 346, pi. x. 



Anser canagicus, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersb. I. 1S36, 37. — Schleg. Mns. P.-B. An.seres, 1865 



113. 

 Bcmicla canagica, Guat, Genera B. III. 1S49, 607. 

 Cklo;phaga canagica, Boxap. Compt. Rend. XLIII. 1856, 648. — Baird, B. N. .\ni. 1858, 768 ; Cat. 



N. Am. B. 1859, no. 573. —Elliot, Ilhistr. Am. B. III. 1860, pi. 45. — CouEs, Check List, 2d 



ed. 1882, no. 698. 

 Philacte canagica, Bannist. Pr. Ac. Xat. Sci. Philad. 1870, 131. — CouES, Key, 1872, 283 ; Check 



List, 1873, no. 482; B. N. W. 1874, 558. — Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 598. 

 Aiiser piclus. Pall. Zoog. Eosso-As. II. 1826, 233. 



Hab. Coast and islands of Alaska ; Caspian Sea (?). 



Sp. Char. Adulf : Head and nape white, the former frequently stained, especially anteriorlv, 

 with orange-rufous ; throat, and neck frontally and laterally, brownish black, or dusky grayish 

 brown. Tail slaty on basal, and white on terminal, half. Prevailing color of rest of iilumage bluish 

 ash, with a glaucous cast, each feather handsomely variegated by a narrow terminal bar of white 

 and a broader subterminal crescent-shaped one of black ; these markings very sharply defined on 

 the upper surface, breast, and .sides, but nearly obsolete on the alxlomen and crissum. Greater 

 coverts and secondaries slate-black, conspicuously margined with white ; anterior lesser coverts, 

 primaries, and primary coverts plain slaty gray. "Lower mandible dark horn-color, with a white 

 spot on each side of branching rami ; membrane about nares livid blue ; rest of upper mandible 

 pale purplish, with a fleshy -white wash ; edge of nail dark hom-oolor, rest of the nail horn-white ; 

 iris hazel ; legs and feet bright rich orange-yellow" (E. W. Nelson, MS.). Young: Nearlv simi- 



