OCCURRENCE OF THE BARNACLE GOOSE (BERNIGLA LEU- 
COPSIS) ON LONG ISLAND, N. Y. 
BY GEO. X. LAWRENCE. 
I was recently informed, by Mr. Harold Herrick, that a specimen 
of this species could be seen, at the store of Mr. Conway, taxidermist, 
in Carmine Street, said to have been killed on Long Island. I called 
there and was shown a nicely mounted example of this Goose in 
perfect plumage. Mr. Conway said that it was brought to him in 
the flesh, in good condition, and was eaten by his family; he spoke 
very favorably of its edible qualities. 
I learned from him that its possessor was Mr. J. K. Kendall of 
this city. I had an interview with this gentleman, and requested 
that he would ascertain all the facts possible as to its capture, and 
send me the information. I received from him the following letter 
giving the result of his inquiries : —• 
New York, November 29, 1876. 
Dear Sir, — About October 20 I saw a specimen of the Barnacle 
Goose hanging in a restaurant in this city, — bought it and had it stuffed. 
I questioned the proprietor, and learned from him the place where he 
bought it, — from a produce-dealer near Washington Market. After¬ 
wards I interviewed the marketman, and he recollected the bird well, 
although he had no idea what it was. He told me he bought it from a 
Long Island farmer, who brought it to the city in his wagon, and who 
said that it was killed by a boy in^ Jamaica Bay. Unfortunately he did 
not know the farmer, — never saw him before nor since, so I was unable 
to trace the bird any farther, but I am fully satisfied the story was true. 
Yours truly, 
J. K. Kendall. 
This is the second instance of this species having been procured 
on the Atlantic coast; the first was obtained in Currituck Sound, 
North Carolina, in 1870, and is recorded in Vol. V, p. 10, of the 
“ American Naturalist.” * 
* In Dr. Brewer’s “ Catalogue of the Birds of New England ” (from Proceed¬ 
ings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. XVII, March 3, 1875) he 
excludes this species from our New England list, and also states that the speci¬ 
men recorded by Mr. Lawrence as having been taken in North Carolina was 
probably one of eight specimens which escaped from the grounds of a gentleman 
in Halifax in the fall of 1871 or 1872. 
From Mr. Lawrence's record (Am. Naturalist, Vol V, p. 10) we find this 
Goose was captured on October 31, 1870, one or two years previous to the es¬ 
caping of the Halifax birds. 
In view of this fact may not Mr. Lawrence’s specimen still remain as the 
first authentic instance of the occurrence of the Barnacle Goose in the United 
States ; at all events, until we hear of a confined specimen having escaped pre¬ 
vious to that date ? — Kutiiven Deane. 
Bull. N.O.O. 2, Jan., 1877. p. 
951. Black Brant [in Washington Territory ]. By Alki. Ibid., Nov. 
13, p. 304. earn. XXI,II 
