21 [Vol. XXX vii. 



the base, resemble those of S.moUissima, but slightly darker, 

 and on an average smaller and narrower. No barred feathei* 

 present as, usually, in the nest of Heniconetta. 



Down, Same colour as the feathers; some pieces, however, 

 are greyish white immediately above the quill^ as is the case 

 with that of <S. mollisshna, but in size that of S. v.-nigra is 

 much smaller. 



Weigkt. Average five eggs, 8-892 g. ; S. mollissima, 

 average 19 eggs, 10343 g. 



Mr. Bunyard remarked that the above material led him 

 to consider that the evidence was sufficient to prove that 

 S. v-nigra was at least entitled to subspecific rank, the two 

 forms differing in their eggs, down, and nest-feathers to 

 neaiiy the same extent as in the case of the White-fronted 

 and Lesser White-fronted Geese. 



SoMATERiA sPECTABiLis : clutch of five with down and 

 feathers from Admiralty Bay, Alaska, June 15, 1898. 



Feathers. Self-coloured, reddish brown, darker at the 

 terminal and lighter at the basal portions, longer and nar- 

 rower than those of S. mollissima and S. v-nigra. 



Doivn. Same colour as feathers, darker and smaller than 

 that of S. mollissima and S. v-nigra. 



Heniconetta stelleri : a clutch of seven eggs with down 

 and feathers taken by A. G. Buxton in Alaska, June 26, 

 1898. 



Description. Feathers pale brown with two distinct bars 

 of blackish brown on the terminal portion. Down blackish 

 brown, smaller and darker than that of the other species. 



The exhibitor remarked that Dresser, in his ' Eggs of the 

 Birds of Europe,' had not mentioned the barred feathers, 

 which in the nest he (Mr. Bunyard) had examined pre- 

 dominate. Mr. Bunyard's remarks were illustrated by 

 mounted specimens of the down and feathers of the above- 

 mentioned species, and he believed that that of >S^. v-nigra 

 had not been previously described, nor the feathers of 

 S. spectabilis. 



