(BARRED UPLAND GOOSE.)
+Bernicla dispar+, _Burmeister, P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 366 (Sierra Tinta,
Rio Negro). +Bernicla antarctica+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii.
p. 514 (err.). +Chloephaga dispar+, _Scl. P. Z. S._ 1867, p. 334
(Chili). +Bernicla magellanica+, _Scl. P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 549
(Rio Negro); _Durnf. Ibis_, 1878, p. 400 (Chupat). +Chloephaga
magellanica+, _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 273 (Carhué).
_Description._--White; neck behind and body beneath banded with
black; primaries, greater wing-coverts, tertiaries, and scapulars
cinereous; rump and tail-feathers ashy black; bill black; feet dark
plumbeous: whole length 26·0 inches, wing 16·0, tail 5·5. _Female_:
head and neck cinnamon-brown; abdomen similar, passing into white
on the crissum, and altogether barred with black; upper back also
barred; rump and tail-feathers brownish black.
_Hab._ Chili and Argentina.
This bird is a northern form of the well-known "Upland Goose" of the
Falkland Islands and Southern Patagonia, from which it differs in the
male being completely barred across with black on the lower surface. It
was first described by Philippi and Landbeck from Chilian specimens, and
in 1872 recognized by Dr. Burmeister as found near the Sierra Tandil and
on the Rio Negro.
In April and May this Goose migrates northwards, along the eastern
coast, as far as the pampas of Buenos Ayres, the migration ending about
one hundred and fifty miles south of Buenos Ayres city. Further south
they are at this season of the year excessively abundant in suitable
localities. Their great camping-grounds are the valleys of the rivers
Negro and Colorado, where they are often so numerous as to denude the
low grounds of the tender winter clovers and grasses, and to cause
serious loss to the sheep-breeders. They also visit the cultivated
fields to devour the young wheat, and are intelligent enough to
distinguish between a real human enemy and the ragged men of straw,
miscalled scarecrows, set up by the farmers to frighten them. While
committing their depredations they are exceedingly wary and difficult to
shoot, but at night, when they congregate by the water-side, they give
the sportsman a better chance. I have succeeded in killing as many as
five at a shot by stalking them under cover of the darkness; and a more
deliciously flavoured game-bird than this Goose I have never tasted.
They are social birds, always going in large flocks, and are very
loquacious, the female having a deep _honking_ note, while the male
responds with a clear whistling, like the Sanderling's note
etherialized.