686 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS— LAMELLIBOSTBES— ANSERES. 



696. 



697. 



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

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

 Casual in Europe. Eggs about 3.00 X 2.00, yellowish-white. . 



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

 as in the last ; size less, but grading up to that of hyperboreus. Length about 26.00 ; wing 

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

 accidental in Ireland. 



C. ros'sl. (To B. E. Boss.) Eoss' Goose. Horned Wavet. Least Snow Goose. 

 Coloration as in the foregoing. Bill with the outline of the feathers on 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 ; biU 1.50; tarsus 3.50. Arctic America, U. S. in winter, western. A curious little white 

 goose, so diflferent from the other species of Chen as to have been made type of a genus 



281. 



698. 



282. 



PHILAC'TE. (Gr. <f>i\os, philos, loving; aKTr), akte, the seashore.) Painted Geese. 

 Superficial aspect of Chen. Skull with superorbital depressions (wanting in other N. Am- 

 Teeth of biU 



exposed posteriorly ; 

 the nail prominent ; 

 biU moderately 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. 

 P. cana'gica. (Of 

 the island of Kanaga. 

 Fig. 474.) Painted 

 Goose. Emperor 

 Goose. Wavy blu- 

 ish-gray, with laven- 

 der or lilac tinting, Fie. 475, -Common Brant. (From Lewis.) 



and sharp black crescentic marks ; head, nape, and tail white, former often washed with amber- 

 yellow; throat black, white-speckled; quiUs varied with black and white; eye brown; feet 

 flesh-color. Length 25.00-28.00; wing 15.00-17.00 ; tail 5.00-6.00; biU 1.50; tarsus 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 ; also 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, 3.35 X 2.00, white, with fine pale brown dotting, giving a 

 general pale dirty-brown color. 



BER'NICLA. (Latinized from English ba/rnacle.) Barnacle Geese. Brant Geese. 

 BUI short, the nostrils at its middle. Laminae of bill not exposed, the commissure being 

 straight. Head and neck black, with white spaces. Bill and feet black. Hind toe very 

 small. Tail of 16-18 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 color, as if charred.) 



