PLECTEOPTERIN^.— SAKCIDIORNIS. 257 



C. nivalis. 30" to 38". The (Eastern) Snow-Goose. Similar to C. hyperboreus, but larger. 

 Breeding ground unknown. United States and Bermudas during migration and in winter. 



C. rossi. 20" to 26". Legs reddish. Bill dull red, tip white, basal part often wrinkled 

 and warty. Plumage as in C. hypoboreus, Arctic America, migrating in winter to S. California 

 and Montana. 



Also the genus Philacte. With serrations only visible near angle of mouth. One species — 

 P. canagica, 26", legs orange, bill purplish, with white spot on each side of lower mandible, 

 head and nape white, tinged rufous, plumage ashy, barred white and black, N.E. Asia and 

 N.W. Amerie^. 



Also the genus Branta. Brent Geese. With cutting edges of bill almost straight, and 

 serrations not visible from outside. Eight species : — 



B. canadensis. 41" to 42". The Canada Goose. Legs and bill black, Head and neck 

 black. Chin and throat white. Above brown, edged lighter. Emnp and tail black. Upper 

 tail-coverts white. Below brown, fading into white. Temperate N. America, Eggs (3-5 x 2-4) 

 pinkish. 



B. hutchinsi. 25" to 34". Similar to B. canadensis, but smaller. Arctic and sub-Arctic 

 America, Japan to E. Siberia. 



B. occidentalis. 36". Below brownish grey, abruptly defined against white of anal region. 

 White cheek-patches usually separated by black throat-stripe. North-west coast of America. 



B. minima. 23" to 25". Similar to B. canadensis, but smaller. Pacific coast of N. America, 

 south in winter to California, straying to Sandwich Islands. 



B. leucopsis. 25^" to 28". The Barnacle Goose. Bill and legs black. Head white. Crown 

 and nape black. Black stripe from eye to bill. Greenland to Nova Zembla, migrating to 

 the Baltic, Denmark, England, and casually to Atlantic coast of N. America. 



B. bemicla. 21" to 23". The Brent Goose. Legs black, tinged olive. Bill black. Head, 

 neck, and breast black. White patch on each side of neck. Above and below brown-grey. 

 Tail-coverts above and below white. Arctic Circle, migrating to N. Europe and the 

 Mediterranean. Eggs (2-7 x 1-9) white. 



B. nigricans. 22" to 29". Similar to B. bemicla. Legs and feet black, but with conspicuous 

 white collar. Breast and abdomen black. W; Arctic America, migrating to California and Japan. 



B. ruficollis. 22". The Ked-breasted Goose. Head black, white patch in front of the eye. 

 Neck and upper breast chestnut, with white band, N. Siberia (where it is known as the 

 "Shakvoy"), migrating in winter to the Caspian. Accidental in Europe and Egypt. Eggs 

 (2-7 X 1-8) greenish white. 



Also the genus Nesochen. With webs deeply excised. One species — N. sandwichensis, 22J", 

 head and throat black, sides of neck buff. Above umber-brown, barred whitish, breast and belly 

 grey-bro;vn, Sandwich Islands. 



Also the subfamily Ceebopsin^. New^ Holland Geese. 



Bill rather thick and high at base. Cere much developed. Plumage dull, without coloured 

 speculum on wing-seoondaries. Hind toe moderate. Seldom enter water. Appear to have 

 affinities both with Hasores and Grallatores. One genus, Cereopsis, one species, viz. — 0. novce 

 hoUandice, 34", legs orange, bill black, cere yellow, crown whitish, plumage brown-grey, 

 S. Australia and Tasmania. Apparently allied to this is the extinct Onemiomis calcitrans, 

 of New Zealand, known only from its bones, which are found together with remains of 

 Dinornithidce. 



Subfamily Pleotkoptekin.*;. Spur -winged Geese. 



Forehead and base of bill furnisbed with caruncles. Long spurs on the wings 

 [Cairina excepted). Hind toe rather long. Tail rather long, broad, and rounded 

 at tip. Upper parts mostly glossy. 



With lores densely feathered. 

 Genus SARCIDIORNIS. 



capKlSiov ; from crdpf =a bit of flesh, and 6pvis=a, bird. 



Bill with large fleshy boss. Plumage black and white. Wing with prominent 

 tubercle. Tail of twelve feathers, rounded. Hind toe with a narrow lobe. Placed 

 by Blanford under Anatince. 



