528 HUTCHINS'S GOOSE. 



narrow membrane, third the longest, fourth considerably shorter, but 

 longer than second ; all reticulated above at the base, but with narrow 

 transverse scutella towards the end ; the three anterior connected by reti- 

 culated webs, the outer with a thick margin, the inner with the edge more 

 dilated. Claws small, arched, rather compressed, except that of the middle 

 toe, which is bent obliquely inwards and depressed, with a curved edge. 



Plumage close, blended on the neck and lower parts of the body, com- 

 pact on the upper. The feathers of the head and neck very narrow, of 

 the back very broad and abrupt, of the breast and belly broadly rounded. 

 Wings long ; primaries strong, curved, the second longest, but the first 

 and third almost as long, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondaries long, 

 rather narrow, rounded. Tail short, slightly rounded, of sixteen rounded 

 feathers. 



Bill, feet, and claws black. Iris broAvn. Head and two upper thirds 

 of the neck glossy black. A large subtriangular patch of white on each 

 side of the head and neck. The general colour of the upper parts is 

 brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler ; of the lower parts pale 

 greyish-brown, margined with yellowish-grey ; the abdomen and lower 

 tail-coverts white ; the hind part of the back brownish-black. The pri- 

 mary quills and tail-feathers are deep brown. 



Length to end of tail 525 inches, extent of wings 50 ; wing from flexure 

 I6f ; tail 5| ; bill alo'ng the back 1|, along the edge of lower mandible 

 1^ ; tarsus 2^; middle toe 2, its claw y%. Weight 4| lb. 



In the Fauna Boreali- Americana, the tail-feathers are stated to be 

 fourteen. In my specimen they are sixteen, and it is probable that the 

 full number is eighteen, as the two middle ones seem to be wanting. 



