AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



281 



THE GENUS NESOCHEN. 



Nesochen, Salvadori, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 81 (1895). 



The Sandwich Island Goose has been placed by most authors in the genus Bernicla, or, as 

 it should be called, Branta (cf. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 111). Some other authors 

 (Eyton, Beichenbach, Gray, and recently Heine & Beichenow) have placed it (in my opinion 

 without much reason) with the South American genus Chloephaga (" Taenidiesthes" of 

 Heine !). Count Salvadori was the first to create a separate genus for this species. The 

 only character he gives is the " deeply excised webs of the feet," these being " not deeply 

 excised " in the genus Branta. This character is very conspicuous, and the legs and feet are 

 altogether very strong and large, causing the birds to stand and walk very firmly and very 

 high, so that there is perhaps sufficient excuse for the genus Nesochen. 



