CHLOEPHAGA POLIOCEPHALA 101 



CHLOEPHAGA POLIOCEPHALA (Gray) 



Bernicla inornata, Gray and Mitchell (nee King), Genera Birds, iii, p. 



607, pi. clxv, 1844. 

 Chloephaga poliOCephala, Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus., iii, p. 



127,1844; Abbott, Ibis, p. 159, 18CI ; Cunningham, Nat. Hist. Strait 



Magellan, p. 184, 1871 ; Salvadori, Gat. Birds Brit. Mas., xxvii, p. 137, 



1895. 

 Bernicla poliOCephala, Durnford, ibis, p. 400, 1878 ; Sclafer and 



Hudson, Argentine Dm., ii, p. 124, 1889 ; Oustalet, Miss. Sci. Gap Horn, 



Ois., p. 192, 1891. 



Habitat. — The Argentine Republic, Chili and Chiloe Island, to Tierra del 

 Fuego ; the Falkland Islands. 



^ , Useless Bay Settlement, 29th Sept., 1904. 



Iris and bill — black ; legs and feet — orange, blotched with black. 



According to Dr. Oustalet, specimens of the Chestnut-breasted 

 Goose were sent to France by d'Orbigny from Eastern Patagonia 

 in 1831, but it does not transpire what use was made of these. 



This is not a common bird. I do not think I saw a hundred 

 altogether, where other Greese could hardly be numbered in 

 figures short of millions. It is a migrant, arriving somewhat 

 later than the majority of G. ruhidiceps. The first I remarked 

 were two pairs inland on the track between Useless Bay and 

 San Sebastian, Sept. 20th. At odd times I came across 

 a pair or two here and there. It is probably more numerous 

 than is actually apparent : it associates with C. ruhtdicejJS and 

 is not readily distinguishable from the latter unless the breast 

 is exposed to view. It is more wary and cunning than 

 either C. dispar or C. ruhidiceps. Long before these become 

 anxious, when all are in company, G. poliocephcda has its 

 head in the air. I was never able to shoot one. For this 

 example I am indebted to Mr. J. G. Cameron, who is the only 

 settler I know who killed one during the time I was in the 

 island. 



