R ED -B R EA S T ED GOOSE.
Bernicla ruficollis (Pall.).
EED-BBEASTED GOOSE.
BERNICLA RUFICOLLIS {Pall.).
Anser ruficollis, Pallas, Spicil. Zool. fasc. vi. p. 21, tab. v.
(1769); Naum. xi. p. 408.
Bernicla ruficollis, Macg. iv. p. 634; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 281;
Dresser, vi. p. 403.
Bernache a cou roux, French; Rothhals-Gans, German.
As I can add nothing from personal experience to the
history of this very handsome bird, I will only state
that it is a rare straggler to Europe from its breeding-
haunts in North-western Siberia; it is said to visit the
Caspian in enormous flocks during the winter months.
There appears to be about seven authentic records of
the occurrence of this Goose in our Islands, besides
several that require confirmation. The latest quoted as
satisfactorily proven by the editor of the 4th edition of
‘ Yarrell,’ was sent from Maldon in January 1871, and
was in the collection of Mr. John Marshall, of Taunton.
I have a skin of this species, labelled by the late
S. Stafford Allen “ Alexandria, December 2nd, 1874” ;
but although it is represented in some of the most