(Vaccinium reticulatum), the strawberry (Fragaria chiliensis), and a black berry called 

 by the natives " popolo " : possibly Sonchus asper, as given by Mr. Dole, may be also 

 a food-plant of this goose. The weird cry of the Nene, according to Peale resembling 

 that of the Snow Goose {A. hyperloreus), is very distinct from that of any other species 

 that I know ; and in olden times the bird was kept in captivity by the natives, acting 

 as a sentinel by giving loud warning of the advent of a stranger. It is easy of approach, 

 and I am told that when one of a flock is wounded the remainder will not leave their 

 companion, so that the collector, if heartless enough, may kill the entire number. 



As an instance of its tameness and attachment, I may mention a bird which would 

 follow its mistress for a distance of fifteen miles ; and this not once, but on many 

 occasions — indeed, it was in the habit of accompanying her on her rides as a dog 

 would do. 



The flesh of this goose is good eating l , and from it may be made the most excellent 

 soup, which I remember to have formed the most delicious item amongst many other 

 delicacies — as roasted goat, golden plover on toast, quail, bananas, bread-fruit, pine- 

 apples, custard apples, mangos — of my Christmas dinner at Kiholo on Hawaii. 



One point remaining to be noticed is the peculiar sweet musky scent found in the 

 neck of the Nene — a fact well known to Hawaiians, but not, I believe, recorded in 

 print hitherto. My birds in the Zoological Society's Gardens were caught one day for 

 my friend Captain F. H. Salvin's inspection ; and that gentleman confirms the statement 

 made above. 



Description. — Adult male. Head, neck, and throat black, which colour extends a little 

 below the eye and for about two inches down the back of the neck ; sides of neck tawny 

 buff, becoming lighter towards the lower part, the feathers blackish at their bases, 

 giving the neck a peculiarly mottled appearance ; breast and belly pale greyish brown, 

 feathers darker on flanks, barred with umber, and almost white at the tips ; abdomen 

 and under tail-coverts pure white ; upper surface dark umber, the feathers variously 

 barred with brown ; rump and tail dusky black. Irides dark hazel ; bill and feet black. 



Adult female. The black extending further down the throat and occupying a greater 

 space below the eye ; feathers on flanks paler than in the adult male ; lower breast not 

 so pale, but uniform in colour with the flanks. 



The young male is similar in colour to the adult female. 



Dimensions. — Total length 22-50 inches, wing from carpal joint 16 "30, culmen 1-6, 

 tarsus 2-80, tail 6-75. 



1 In ' Pearls of the Pacific,' the author, Mr. J. ~W. Boddam-Whetham, agrees with me ; for he says 

 (p. 100) : — " On returning to the house I found a very tempting repast ready, and amongst other luxuries 

 was a strawberry-fed goose, which had been enveloped in leaves and baked in a hole in the earth." This was 

 during his stay at the Yoleano House at Kilauea on Hawaii. 



