ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 87 
GENUS PATLACTE. 
This genus is known only by one species. 
(Philacte canagica, Bernicla canagica, Emperor Goose). 
This bird was named by a Russian author (Sevastianoff), 
being a Latin form of ‘‘ Kamschatka,” North Asia and North- 
West America. Mr. Blaauw states that a Canagicus has never 
been imported alive. 
GENUS BRANTA. 
The members of this group are distinguished from the 
true Geese as having a short narrow beak, which is somewhat 
high in the centre, and by the feathers of the neck being 
smooth, and not disposed in ridges as in the Azseves. In this 
Genus the body is oval, the neck slender, and the bill much 
shorter than the head ; the /amed/e or plates at the edge of the 
bill scarcely observable, the eyes are small, and the eyelids 
feathered ; the moderately short legs are placed well forward ; 
the wings are long, extending to the tip of the short rounded 
tail, which is generally composed of sixteen broad feathers. 
The Bernicles are found in every quarter of the globe, 
and exhibit much variation both of plumage and habits. They 
frequent sand banks, salt marshes, and estuaries of rivers, 
feeding on grass, marine vegetables, shell-fish, and other 
mollusca. ‘he nests are placed on the ground, being of rude 
construction ; the eggs, usually from six to sixteen in number, 
are greenish white in most of the species. Incubation occupies 
from twenty-eight to thirty-one days. 
Eight species of Brent Geese are enumerated by Salvadori 
as follows :—Branta canadensis, B. hutchinst, B. occidentalis, B. 
