686 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — LAME LLIROSTEES— ANSEBES. 



to those of the next. N. Am. at large ; breeds in high latitudes, migrating and wintering in 

 the U. S- Abundant in tlie interior and along the Pacific coast, less so on tlie Atlantic. 

 Casual in Europe. Eggs about 3.00 X 2-00, yellowish-white. 



696. C. h. alba'tus. (Lat. alhatus, whitened.) Lesser Snow Goose. Coloration precisely 

 as in the last; size less, but grading up to that of hi/perboreus. Length about 25.00; wing 

 15.50; tail 5.50; bill 2.00-2.12 ; tarsus 2.90-3.00. Western N. Am., probably also Eastern; 

 accidental in Ireland. 



697. C. ros'si. (Td B. R. Eoss.) Eoss' GoosE. HoRNED Wavey. Least Snow Goose. 

 Coloration as in the foregoing. Bill with the outline of the feathers ou the side nearly straight 

 instead of strongly convex, studded at base with numerous papillae, and less exposure of the 

 teeth. Very small, no larger than a mallard duck. Length about 21.00; wing 14.50; tail 

 5.00 ; bill 1.50; tarsus 2.50. Arctic America, U. S. in winter, western. A curious little white 

 goose, so difl'erent from the other species of Choi as to have been made type of a genus 

 Exa'nthemo2>s. 



281. PHILAC'TE. (Gr. (piXos, |j/«tos, loving; aKTrj, akte, the seashore.) Painted Geese. 

 Superficial aspect <A Chen. Skull with superorbital depressions (wanting in other N. Am. 

 geese). Teeth of bill 

 exposed pusteriorly ; 

 the nail prominent ; 

 bill uioderately ro- 

 bust. Tarsus not 

 longer than middle 

 toe and claw. Plu- 

 mage variegated, but 

 no metallic tints ; bill 

 and feet light-colored. 

 Webbing of the toes 

 incised. Sexes alike. 

 Arctic and maritime. 



698. P. cana'gic.1. (Of 

 the island (if Kanaga. 

 Fig. 474.) Painted 

 Goose. Emperor 

 Goose. Wavy blu- 

 ish-gray, with laven- 

 der or lilac tintincr Fig. 475. — Common Brant. (From Lewis.) 



and sliarp black cresceutic marks ; head, nape, and tail wliite, former often washed mth amber- 

 yellnw ; throat black, white-speckled; f|uills varied with black and white; eye brown; feet 

 flesh-coh.r. Length 25.00-28.00; wing 15.00-17.00 ; tail 5.00-6.00; bill 1.50; tarsns 3.00. 

 N. W. coast ; abundant at mouth of Yukon ; wintering chiefly in S. Alaska and the Aleutian 

 Islands, breeding N. to Behring Strait at least; alsci on the Siberian side. A remarkable 

 species, unlike any other goose of our country ; strictly maritime. Its flesh is rank, and 

 scarcely fit for food. Eggs about 5, :i.35 X 2.00, white, with fine pale brown dotting, giving a 

 general pale dirty-brown color. 



282. BEK'NICLA. (Latinized from English barnacle.) Barnacle Geese. Brant Geese. 

 Bill short, the nostrils at its middle. Laminse of bill not exposed, the commissure being 

 straight. Head and neck black, with white spaces. Bill and feet black. Hind to(< very 

 small. Tail of 10-18 feathers. Sexes alike. Several species, of both Hemispheres. (The name 

 '■ barnacle " commemorates the fable that these birds sprouted from the little cirripeds called 

 barnacles; " brent" or "brant" is simply " burnt" goose, from the dark cidur, as if charred.) 



