On the Japan-taken Branta canadensis

Abstract

I reported a specimen of Branta taken in Japan preserved in the British Museum of Natural History, London and identified it with some doubt to be Branta minima (cf. Tori, no. 26, pp. 2-3, 1928). Recently Mr. Robert A. Coombes of Tring Museum kindly examined this skin (Brit. Mus. Reg. 1894. 8. 12. 24) on my behalf and informed that it belongs to B. c. minima, obtained in Yokohama (coll. by H. Pryer). On the other hand B. c. leucopareia and B. c. asiatica were also recorded as occurring Japan. I, however, incline to think because the Japan-taken specimens of canadensis examined by me all have a white neck ring (4.5-19mm. in width) that subspecific identification of these specimens should be leucopareia. This race has individually variable wing length measurements (cf: Hellmayr & Conover, 1948) and asiatica should become a synonym of leucopareia.