ANSERINJ3 — THE GEESE — BERNICLA. 
475 
parts, all the feathers of the back, the scapulars, and the larger wing-coverts being distinctly, though 
narrowly, tipped with pale ash, while the more bluish gray at the base of the feathers is every- 
where more or less distinctly exposed. It is not likely, however, that these differences will prove 
constant. 1 These European skins measure as follows: Wing, 14.90-16.90 inches ; culnien, 1.10- 
1.45 ; tarsus, 2.50-3.00 ; middle toe, 1.90-2,10. 
The claim of the Barnacle Goose to be included in the North American fauna is 
based upon its probable constant occurrence in Greenland, and occasional capture 
along the Atlantic coast. The individual 
instances of its being taken at long inter- 
vals and in distant localities may possibly 
be accounted for by considering them as 
birds escaped from confinement. In a few 
instances the occurrence of this bird in this 
country can be proved to have been caused 
in the manner suggested; other cases are, 
and will perhaps remain, doubtful. 
Holboll states that this Goose in autumn 
regularly visits the southern part of Green- 
land ; but he does not believe that it breeds 
anywhere in that country. Professor Rein- 
hardt, however, considers these two state- 
ments inconsistent with each other — and 
indeed he has been told that a few of the 
eggs of this Goose have been actually taken 
in Greenland ; though he is not positive as 
to the truth of this statement. 
One specimen was obtained by Mr. B. R. Ross near Rupert House, on James’s 
Bay, at the southern end of Hudson’s Bay, and is presumed to be the first North 
American specimen ever procured, or at least known to have been taken. Another 
was shot on the coast of Nova Scotia; but there is no doubt that it was one of 
several that a short time before had escaped from the grounds of Mr. A. Downs, near 
Halifax. 
No mention is made of the Barnacle Goose by Dr. Richardson, and it was not 
noticed either by himself or by any of his party. Hearne, however, refers to the 
occurrence, on Hudson’s Bay, of a single specimen of what he styles the Bean Goose. 
He speaks also of seeing this Goose at least three several times ; and it is quite 
possible that the bird he refers to under this name may be the Barnacle. 
A second specimen has more recently been taken in Currituck Sound, N. C. It 
was killed on the 31st of October, 1870, from a blind where there were fifteen or 
twenty live Geese as decoys, toward whom it Avas attracted. It Avas unaccompanied 
by any other bird. It is not improbable that this may have been a bird escaped from 
confinement. 
Both Nuttall and Bonaparte refer to this species as being rare and accidental in 
America; but unfortunately mention no authority for the statement, and refer to no 
1 Since the above was written there has been received at the National Museum a fine mounted example 
of the Barnacle Goose, obtained at Jamaica Bay, Long Island, on Oct. 18, 1876, by Mr. J. Kendall, by 
whom it was kindly presented to the Museum. This example is even more different from the Hudson’s 
Bay one than the European specimens above mentioned, the whole back being distinctly marked with 
broad bars of bluish gray. In size it is intermediate, in all its measurements, between the extremes 
as given in the diagnosis on p. 455. 
