t 



338 ORNITHOLOGY. 



All of tlie three preceding species are now well-known birds of the 

 Pacific coast of South America, and future investigations may demon- 

 strate a more northern range of locality. It would even be a matter 

 of interest, to transplant them to the northern temperate zone. 



This species also was found by Captain Bernsee abundant at the 

 Falkland Islands, and he states explicitly, that the male and female 

 are alike in colors. 



6. Bernicla sandwichensis. Vigors. — The Sandwich Island Goose. 



Bernida sandwicJiensis, ViG. Proc. Zool. Soc. Loudon, 1834, p. 43. 

 Anser haivaiiensis, Eyd. and Soul. Voy. Bonite, Oiseaux, p. 104 (1841). 

 Anser hawniensis, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 249 (1848). 



Voy. Bonite, Zool. Atlas, Ois. Plate X; Jard. and Selby, 111. Orn. 

 n. s. Plate VIII. 



This remarkable and little-known Goose was repeatedly noticed by 

 the naturalists of the Expedition, and is apparently peculiar to Hawaii, 

 one of the Sandwich Islands. 



It belongs evidently, from the facts recorded of its habits, to a group 

 characterized by the partiality of the species for fresh waters, and for 

 the interior of the countries which they inhabit, and they are more 

 decidedly terrestrial in their habits than any other. They appear to 

 present strong analogies to the Tree Ducks (Genus Dendrocygna). 



Of the present species, Mr, Peale states : 



" We observed it on the volcanic mountains of the Island of Hawaii, 

 generally in pairs, at the season of our visit, in the month of November, 

 but rarely four or five were seen together, feeding on the berries of a 

 very abundant species of Vaccinum, growing on the old beds of lava. 

 On these they had become very fat, and were delicious eating ; grass, 

 however, appears to be their ordinary food. We never saw this bird 

 near water, which is scarce in those regions, our party being obliged 

 to carry the necessary supply for the journey in calabashes, but it is 

 said to breed near shallow ponds, a few of which occur in the moun- 

 tains. 



" What is most remarkable, is the statement made to us by the 

 natives, and which we have every reason to believe is the fact, that 



