ANSER ALBIFROXS, WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 547 



316.— Maxim., J. f. O. %'ii, 18.59, 166.— Heerm., P. R. R. Rep. x, 1859, pt. vi, 68 

 (California).— H(n', Smiths. Rep. 1864, 438 (Missouri).— Trippe, Pr. Ess. lust, 

 vi, 1871, 119 (Minuesota, common). 



Anser (jambdi, Hakt., R. M. Z. 1852, 7.— Cab., J. f. O. v, 1857, 226 (Cuba).— Bd., B. N. A. 

 1858, 761.— Coop. &. Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 1860, 249.— Wheat., Ohio Agric. 

 Rep. 1860, No. 236.— Allen, Pr. Ess. Inst, iv, 1864, 87 (Massachusetts).— CouES, 

 Md. \, 1868, 298 (New England, very rare or accidental). — Coues, Pr. Phila. 

 Acad. 1866, 98 (xVrizouu).— Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 1868, 124 (South Caro- 

 lina).- Dress., Ibis, 1866, 42 (Texas).— Coues, Ibis, 1866, 269.— Browx, Ibis, 

 1868, 425.— Dall & Banx., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 294 (Yukon, breeding).— 

 TURXB., B. E. Pa. 1869, 35 (rare).— Baxx., Pr. Plnla. Acad. 1870, 131 (critical).— 

 Sxow, B. Kans. 1873, 11 (two instances). 



Anser albifrons var. gambiU, CouES, Key, 1872, 282. — RiDGW., Ann. Lye. N. Y. s, 1874. 

 388 (Illinois). 



Anser eri/throjms, Bd., Stansbnry's Rep. 1852, 321. — Woodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 102. — 

 Newb., p. R. R. Rep. vi, 1857, 101. 



Anser frontalis, Bd., B. N. A 1858, .562 (New Mexico).— Hexry, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1859, 

 109.— MclLWR., Pr. Ess. lust, v, 1863, 94 (Canada.) {Youmj.) 



Hah. — Continent of North America; breeding in the far North ;• wintering in the 

 United States. Cuba. • 



Not noticed by the Expeditions. 



As Audubon suggests, this bird may, in highest breeding-plumage, be entirely black 

 below. The amount of black blotching in United States (winter) specimens is ex- 

 tremely variable ; sometimes there are only a few scattered aud isolated black feathers. 

 and sometimes the uniformity of the black is only here and there interrupted by a few 

 gray or whitish feathers. While the species is distinguishable on sight from ail other 

 North American ones, it is so closely allied to the European A. albifrons as to be only 

 with ditBcnlty separated in a satisfactory manner. It apparently only differs in the 

 larger bill ; that of albifrons is said to measure 1} inches along the culmen, aud that of 

 fjambeli 2 inches ; but I suspect that so great a difference does not always obtain. 

 Audubon's measurement of our bird's bill is 1|; Baird's are 1.86 and 2.00. Dr. H. 

 Schlegel gives for the adult European bird 19 to 22 lines (twelfths of an inch), and for 

 the young 17 to 18. These observations indicate that the ordinary variation in either 

 ca.sc is as great as the difference supposed to distinguish the two species, aud that, 

 moreover, the billsof some American specimens are no'longer than those of some Euro- 

 pean ones. A slight average discrepancy, therefore, is probably all that can fairly be 

 said to exist. 



jMauy thousands of the White-fronted Geese inhabit California during 

 the winter, at which season they are distributed over the United States at 

 large, though not in such prodigious numbers in the East and interior 

 as along the Pacific coast aud slope. It leaves its northern breeding- 

 grounds generally in September, and accomplishes its migration during 

 the following month. From the numbers that pass the winter with us 

 it is to be inferred that its southward extension is generally not much, 

 if any, beyond our limits. Some remain in California in April, but the 

 great body depart the month before. None, to our knowledge, breed in 

 the United States; a statement that also holds good with reference to 

 all our other species, except the Canadian. 



The " Speckle-bellies," as tijey are called in California, associate freely 

 at all times with both the Snow and Hutchins' Geese, and appear to 

 have the same general habits, as well as to subsist upon the same kinds 

 of food. Their Jlcsh i.s ccjually good for the table. As is the case with 

 the other species, they are often hunted, in regions where they have 

 become too wild to be otherwi.se successfully ai)proached, by means of 

 bullocks trained for the purpose. Though they may have learned to 

 distrust the api)roach of a horse, and to make off with commendable dis- 

 cretion from what they have found to be a dangerous comi)anion of that 

 animal, they have not y<'t come to the same view with respect to horned 

 cattle, and givat numbers are slaughtered annually by taking advantage 

 of their ignorance. The bullock is taught to feed (piietly along toward 

 a iloek. the gunner nieanwliilc keeping himself .screened from the birds' 

 view by the body of the animal until within range. Though 1 have not 



