BIRDS ANSERINAE BERNICLA NIGRICANS. 
767 
although it is my impression that it had 16 tail feathers. No. 2727, on the other hand, from 
Mr. Audubon's collection, is much as described by him. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No, 
9952 
2727 
4529 
9956 
Locality. 
Fort Steilacoom 
Columbia river? 
San Francisco 
North Red river, Minnesota. 
When collected. 
September, 1857. 
Whence obtained. 
Dr. Suckley 
S. F. Baird 
Lt. Williamson 
N.W. University.. 
Orig. No. 
Collected by- 
J. J. Audubon 
Dr. Newberry. 
K. Kennicott . 
BERNICLA BRENTA, Steph. 
Brant. 
Amis bemicla, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1, 1766, 198.— Wn.s. Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 131 ; pi. lxxii. 
Anser bemicla, Bon. Syn. 1828, 373.— Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 469.— Nutt. Mau.II, 359.— Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1831, 24, 610; 
pi. 391.— Lb. Birds Amor. VI, 1843, 203 ; pi. 379. 
Bemicla brenta, Steph. Shaw's Zool. XII, it, 1824, 46.— Bon. List, 1838.— Eyton, Mon. Anat. 1839, 85. 
" Anser torquata, Frisch." 
Bemicla iorquatus, Brehm, Nat. Vog. Deutsch. 1831, 848. 
Sp. Ch. — Bill and feet, head, neck, aud body anterior to the wings, primary quills, and tail black ; the secondary quills nearly 
black. On e'ach side of the middle of the n'eck is a small white crescent, streaked with black. The lower eyelids with a very 
faint trace of white feathers. The black of the jugulum is abruptly defined against the bluish silvery gray of the remaining 
under parts, the feathers of which have the basal portions bluish gray ; the axillars and insides of the wings showing a darker 
tint of the same. The gray of the belly passes gradually into white behind, the tail being encircled all round and concealed by 
this color. The back and wing coverts are grayish blue, with slightly paler edges ; the rump is of a similar, but darker and 
more uniform blue. The secondaries have some concealed whitish on the inner webs towards the base. Length, 23.50 ; wing, 
12.75; tarsus, 2.26; commissure, 1.40. 
Sab. — Eastern or Atlantic coast of North America and Europe. Not yet observed on the Pacific side of the continent. 
List of Specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
1199 
9 
Eastern shore of Maryland 
S. F. Baird 
23.50 
45. 50 
12.75 
BERNICLA NIGRICANS, Cassin. 
Black Braut. 
Anser nigricans, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. IV, 1846, 171 ; plate. 
Bemicla nigricans, Cassin, 111. I, n, 1853, 52; pi. x. 
Sp. Ch. — Head, neck, and body anterior to the wings deep black, passing into dark sooty plumbeous on the rest of the body ; 
this color beneath extending nearly to the anus, and above shading insensibly into the black of the rump. Middle of the throat 
with a white patch extending round on the sides, and somewhat streaked with black. No white on the eyelids. Sides of rump 
and of base of tail, with upper and under tail coverts concealing the tail, and space across the anus, white ; primary and 
