ANSEEIX^ — THE GEESE — AXSER. 



447 



From these measurements it may be readily seen that the three forms intergrade as to general 

 size, the bill being the only member iu which there is a constant difference ; and as we are not 

 aware of any positive characters of coloration, it seems very probable that they constitute merely 

 races of one species. At any rate, we shall so here regard the American form and its nearest 

 European ally (.4. albifrons), leaving the final determination of the question (if determinable it 

 be) to future investigators. 



Another species of true Anser — the Bean Goose (J. segeiuvi) —has been credited to North 

 America by Nutt.vll ('• Man." ii. 1832, p. 348 ; "Canada and Hudson's Bay") ; but apparently 

 without good authority for so doing. Considering the possibility of its occurrence, however, its 

 principal synonymy and characters are herewith given : — 



Ansek SEGETiLM (Gm. ) Bp. The Bean Goose. 

 Anas segetum, Gm. S. X. I. ITSS, 512. 

 Anser scfjetum, Meyku, Tasch. II. 554, et AucT. 

 Anser arvcnsis, Breh>[, Vog. Deutsclil. 838. 

 ? Anser rufescens, 

 Anser platyuros. 



Br>EHM, t. c. pp. 837, 838. 



Sp. Char. " Male thirty inches long ; bill moderately thick, nearly as long as the head, two 

 inches and a third in length, and an inch and two twelfths in height at the base, nine twelfths iu 



A. albifrons. 



height behind the circular unguis, yellowish orange, with the base and unguis black ; tarsus three 

 inches long, dull orange-yellow ; the wings longer than the tail ; feathers of the neck linear-oblong, 

 disposed in ridges ; head and neck grayish brown ; upper parts dark brown and gray, barred with 

 the whitish terminal margins of the feathers ; hind part of back blackish brown ; lower parts pale 

 brownish gray, becoming white behind. Female similar, but smaller. Young with the upper parts 

 darker, the head and neck of a lighter brown, three small patches of white feathers at the base of 

 the bill" (Macgillivray, "Hist. Brit. B." IV. 1852, p. 595). 



