30 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



in any other respect, unless, perhaps, they may be slightly less 

 glossy. They vary in length from 4"3 to 3'8 inches. They may 

 be distinguished from eggs of the AVhooper by their weight, 

 details of which will be found above. 



THE SNOW-GOOSE. 



(Anser hyperboreus.)* 

 Plate 11, Fig. 3. 



The Snow-Goose has accidentally occured in Great Britain on 

 several occasions. About a dozen examples have been noticed in 

 Ireland, others in Cumberland and Yorkshire. There are two 

 races of Snow-Goose, a large and a small one, and it is the latter 

 which has been met with in the British Islands. The larger race 

 of Snow-Goose is at present only known to breed in Hudson's Bay 

 Territory ; but as flocks have been seen on migration and indi- 

 viduals occasionally obtained both in North Europe and in Siberia, 

 it seems probable that it may breed on some of the islands in the 

 Arctic Ocean near those continents. It winters in the United 

 States as far south as Texas, and several examples are recorded 

 from the Bermudas. 



The nests found by Mr. MacFarlane on the Anderson Kiver were 

 mere hollows in the sandy soil, plentifully lined with down and 

 probably with dead grass. The colour of the eggs is described as 

 of a uniform dirty chalky-white, and the size as averaging 3"4 

 inches in length and 2'2 inches in breadth. 



THE BEAN-GOOSE. 



{Anser segetum.)\ 

 Plate 8, Fig. 1. 



The Bean-Goose is a common visitor to the British Islands on 

 spring and autumn migration, and great numbers remain to win- 

 ter on our shores. It is a well-known bird on most parts of the 

 English, Scotch, and Irish coasts, but is said to be only a straggler 

 to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, though abundant in the 



* Chen hypcrboreus — Saunders, Manual, p. 393; Sharpe, Handb. Brit. B., p. 225. 

 t Anser fabalis (Lath.)— Sharpe, Handb. Brit. B., II., p. 232. 



