VARIATION OF THE BEAN-GOOSE. 169 



lessens the panmixie), and partly by their strength and in- 

 tellectual faculties. It is therefore evident that a slight varia- 

 tion in one or the other direction is of less importance for such 

 strong, intelligent, and watchful birds as the Geese than for 

 weaker birds not possessing so many qualities useful in the 

 struggle for life. It is also possible, and even probable, that 

 through isolation some divergences may be fixed, and geo- 

 graphical races, subspecies, &c, originate, or have already 

 done so.* 



The variation of these birds is therefore well worth study, 

 especially in connection with geographical distribution and 

 biology, but the infinite splitting in " species," which cannot be 

 separated by any valid characteristics, does not do much good. 

 Upsala. 



* Anser brachyrhynchus breeding in Spitzbergen is, for instance, a quite 

 distinct species, although related to the Bean-Goose, but now differing from 

 it in exterior as well as skeletal characters. Sushkin's A, neglectus might 

 be another. 



