612 ANSER ALBBIFRONS. 



states that he " found this species in general more plentiful 

 than the Bean Goose. It visits the fenny parts of this 

 country in small flocks in winter ; is killed on the coast, as 

 well as on our rivers, in severe weather ; and not uncom- 

 monly brought to market and sold for the common Wild 

 Goose." Mr. Selby says, " it varies from the Bean Goose in 

 preferring low and marshy districts to the upland and drier 

 haunts of that bird, and in these localities subsists on the 

 aquatic grasses, being very seldom seen to frequent corn or 

 stubble-fields. A specimen sent to me (and which was killed 

 near Alnwick, in Northumberland) had its stomach gorged 

 with the tender shoots and leaves of the common clover 

 (Trifolium pratense), upon which it was feeding on the 

 breaking up of a severe snow-storm." 



I believe little more can be said as to its distribution in 

 Europe than that in winter it is dispersed over the temperate 

 parts, and in summer betakes itself to the regions bordering 

 on the arctic circle. It occurs equally in America, where in 

 winter it advances as far as the Gulf of Mexico, and in 

 spring was seen by Dr. Richardson travelling over the fur 

 countries at the same time as the Snow Geese, but in sepa- 

 rate flocks. He states that they breed in the woody districts 

 skirting Mackenzie's River, to the north of latitude sixty- 

 seven degrees, as well as on the islands of the arctic sea. 

 According to Mr. Audubon, the eggs are dull yellowish- 

 green, with indistinct patches of a darker tint of the same 

 colour, their length two inches and three quarters, their 

 breadth an inch and three quarters. 



According to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle it is an occa- 

 sional winter visitant in Orkney, and not so rare there as 

 the Bean Goose. Mr. St. John informs us that the White- 

 fronted Goose makes its appearance in the lower parts of 

 Morayshire at an earlier period than the other species. It 

 is never seen there, he says, in large flocks, but in small 

 companies of from eight or nine to twenty birds ; appears to 

 be wholly graminivorous ; and, when undisturbed, usually 

 rests at night in any grass field where it may have been 

 feeding in the afternoon, whereas the Grey Goose betakes 

 itself every night to Findhorn Bay. I have seen a specimen 



