Interior of British North America. 145 
of the Canada Goose is about 36 inches; therefore, if any one 
can secure a specimen measuring even 40 in. before skinning, I 
think he will have hit upon the Large Goose—call it barnstonii 
or leucolcema. The North American Geese are, however, in a 
tc very hazy condition,” to use Mr. Loss's words, who, writing 
from Mackenzie Liver, in a letter dated June 1,1862 (which Mr. 
Murray has kindly allowed me the perusal of), remarks on the 
subject thus :—“ As to the specific arrangement of the Berniclce, 
the more I study the matter, the greater appears the uncertainty. 
My opinion is, that either the B. canadensis, leucomelia [sic], 
barnstonii, kutchinsii, parvipes, leucopareia are only varieties, or 
else that more species will be required than those named above. 
The number of tail-feathers does not, I consider, form a spe¬ 
cific distinction of any great value.” He then adduces some 
instances of discrepancies in this way, and concludes by saying, 
that, although he has obtained a second specimen of B. barnstonii, 
which measured 38 inches in length and 19 inches in the wing, 
and, besides the bright fawn-colour waved with lavender, had 
“ the confluence of the white cheek-patches under the throat ex¬ 
tended to the rami of the lower jaw, and there were two white 
spots over as well as under the <eyes,” while its back was of a 
darker shade than the typical B. canadensis, yet he is doubtful of 
its specific identity. I have consequently placed a mark of 
interrogation against the specific name. 
Bernicla brenta. 
This, I believe, is quite an Eastern American bird. The ( Fauna 
Bor.-Am.' gives the habitat as the coasts and islands of Hud¬ 
son's Bay and the Arctic Sea; and I have received a specimen 
from Hudson's Bay myself. Mr. Barnston Ibis,' vol. ii. p. 
255) considers it a salt-water bird. The Black Brant (B. nigri¬ 
cans) takes its place on the Pacific shore, which Mr. Loss, from 
information he has received, thinks may be found on the Yukon 
Liver, which drains the opposite slope of the Locky Mountains 
to the Mackenzie. 
106. Anas boschas. 
Besides my specimens (‘Ibis,' vol. iv, p. 9) from the Saskatcha- 
wan, I have received the Mallard from Hudson's Bay; and it is 
