AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



279 



77. BRANTA NIGRICANS (Lawr.). 



Anser nigricans, Lawrence, Ann. Lye. N. York, iv. p. 171, pi. xii. (18 AG). 

 Branta nigricans, Salvadori, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 123 (1895). 



Palmer obtained a specimen of this bird from Brother Matthias, who got it at Kahului, 

 on the island of Maui, in 1891. 



Eor description and literature on this Goose, see Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 123. 



78. BRANTA CANADENSIS MINIMA 



Branta minima, Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 22 (1885). 



Branta canadensis minima of the American Orn. Union Check-lists. 



Bcrnicla munroii, Rothsch. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) x. p. 108 (1892) (Kauai). 



Palmer shot the one recorded specimen of this small Goose on the 16th of March, 1891, 

 near Waimea on the island of Kauai, and made the following remarks in his diary 

 " 6 of Hawaiian Goose. Length 22| inches. Stomach contains small seeds ; bill and legs 

 black, iris dark brown." 



When looking over Palmer's birds in 1892, I at once saw that this bird was not at all 

 Nesochen sandvicensis, as Palmer imagined ; but, as no other Goose had been recorded from 

 these islands, I erroneously concluded it must be new. However, even before I discovered 

 the true name of this bird I had suspected my mistake, when Palmer sent me three other 

 American species of Geese. 



