﻿RED-BREASTED GOOSE. 37 



NATATORES. ANATIDJE. 



PLATE CCXXXIV. 



RED-BREASTED GOOSE. 



ANSER RUFICOLLIS. 



The Red-breasted Goose is a very rare occasional visitant 

 in Great Britain ; it was noticed by Montagu and Bewick, 

 and has occurred since in several instances, but only as soli- 

 tary individuals, which seems to denote their being strag- 

 glers. 



On the continent of Europe this bird has been observed under 

 the same circumstances, one individual having been captured 

 at a time in Belgium, one in France, and also single speci- 

 mens in several different parts of the coast along the German 

 Ocean. Temminck remarks, that the specimens thus obtained 

 must have escaped from captivity ; but, without wishing to 

 dispute the possibility of it, we consider it improbable that 

 at least twenty known specimens of this kind should have 

 so escaped, while there is no collection in Europe on record 

 where there has ever been an individual alive, with the ex- 

 ception of one that was captured alive in 1766, in Yorkshire, 

 and kept for a short time during the summer months. 



The present species inhabits the northern parts of Asia, 

 between the Icy sea and Siberia, about the mouths of the 



