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Show 364 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON [Apr. 4, iride fere nigra, pedibus flavis: long, tota cire. 26, ala 16, cauda 5*5, rostri a rictu 1*6, tarsi 3*3, dig. med. cum ung. 3 (Descr. exempl. ex Ins. Falklandici in Mus. S. & G.). Hab. Straits of Magellan (King, Darwin, Cunningham) : Staaten Island (Cook) : Falkland Islands (Darwin, Abbott). According to Darwin, this Goose is found in Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands, being common in the latter. They live in pairs or small flocks in the interior of the island, and seldom approach either the sea or the freshwater lakes. They build on the outlying islets, probably through fear of the foxes; and the same cause may also account for their being tame by day but the reverse on the approach of dusk. They live entirely on vegetable matter, and are called by the seamen " Upland Geese." Capt. Abbott, who, like other travellers, found this species common in East Falkland, says that it breeds all over the country, as well as on the adjoining islets-and on this point differs from Mr. Darwin; but he adds that the disappearance of foxes from East Falkland may have led to a change of habits as regards the situation chosen by this species for its nest. He gives a good account of its nesting-habits. This species appears to do well in captivity, and many broods have been reared in the Gardens of this Society since its introduction in 1857 (Rev. List of Vert. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 245). The Chilian form of this Goose has been described by Philippi and Landbeck as Bernicla dispar-the main and, in fact, the only distinction consisting in the male being distinctly barred with black on the under surface. Our immature male specimen from the Falklands is marked to a slight extent in a similar manner; and we are disposed to consider the character one of hardly sufficient value to separate the two forms specifically. The following references belong to the Chilian form :- 4. BERNICLA DISPAR. Bernicla magellanica, Cassin, Gilliss's Exp. ii. p. 201, t. xxiv. (1856); Gay, Fauna Chil. p. 443 (1848) (Chiloe). Bernicla dispar, Ph. & Landb. Wiegm. Arch. 1863, p. 190, et Cat. Av. Chil. p. 40; Burm. P.Z.S. 1872, p. 366; Sclater, Ibis, 1864, p. 122. Chloephaga dispar, Scl. P. Z. S. 1867, pp. 320, 334. Hab. Central Chili (Ph. et Landb.) ; Argentine Republic, Sierra Tinta and Rio Negro (Burm.). Philippi and Landbeck state that this Goose is of frequent occurrence in winter in tbe central provinces of Chili, and that one of the collectors for the Museum of Santiago brought a specimen from the Straits of Magellan. Burmeister refers the Goose frequenting the Sierra Tinta, near Tandil, to the southward of Buenos Ayres, to this species or race; he also adds that he has recently received both sexes from El Carmen, on the Rio Negro. In October 1871 the Society purchased of Mr. Weisshaupt, along |
