546 ANSER ALBIFRONS, WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 



female must sometimes set with her feet in the water. They are usually 

 laid about May 21 at Nulato, but later at the Yukon mouth. In July 

 the Swans moult and cannot Hy, and the Indians have great sport 

 spearing them with bone tridents. They are very shy birds, and usually 

 shot on the wing or with a bullet. This species, if hung long enough, 

 is tender, well-flavored, and excellent eating." 



This Swan is only seen in the United States during the migrations, 

 and in winter. It does not proceed much beyond the Middle districts, 

 being apparently unknown in the Gulf States, although reaching our 

 southern border on the Pacific side. One of its favorite resorts is Chesa- 

 peake Bay, where it is comparatively abundant from November, as 

 attested by its constant exhibition at restaurants of Philadelphia, Bal- 

 timore and Washington. It appears to come inland from the Korth, 

 for it is very rare or merely casual in New England, where it has not 

 been traced, so far as I am aware, beyond Massachusetts. In the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley it is apparently rare, at least in comparison with the 

 Trumpeter, but it is much more plentiful along the Pacific coast, where 

 it winters. 



The eggs of the Swau vary in size from about 4^ inches in length by 

 2f in breadth, down to 4 by 2i, and are nearly ellipsoidal in shape. The 

 shell is more or less roughened, and is dull, dirty white, with a wholly 

 indeterminate amount of brownish discoloration. The eggs of the 

 Trumpeter may average a little larger, but cannot be distinguished. 

 The largest number I have known of in a nest is five. Numerous speci- 

 mens are examined from various points in British and Russian America. 



The yellow spot on the bill is not constant ; in young birds, especially, 

 often no trace can be observed. In such cases the species would be dis- 

 tinguishable from C. buccinator by the smaller size, fewer tail-feathers, 

 and shorter, differently shaped bill. The proper name of this species 

 is, most probably, Cygnus columbianus, after Anas colnmhianus of Ord 

 (Guthrie's Geog. 2d Am. ed. 1815, 310), based on the Whistling Swan 

 of Lewis .& Clarke (ii, 192), who correctly distinguish the two species. 



Subfamily Anserine ; Geese. 

 j~^ ^ ANSER ALBIFRONS var. GAMBELI, (Hart.) Coues. 



White-fronted Goose; Speckle-belly. 



a. albijrons. 



Anas dlbifrons, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 509. — Temm., Man- 1815, 529. 



Anser alhlfrons, Bechst., Naturg. iv, 898.— Leach, Cat. 181G, 36. — BoiE, Isis, 1822, 563.— 

 Steph., Gen. Zoo], sii, 25. — Brehm, V. D. 843. — Bp., List, 1838, 55. — Jenyns, 

 Mau. 222.— Keys. & Blas., Wir)). Eur. 1840, 83.— Naum., V. D. xi, 1842, 352, 

 pi. 289.— Macgil., Mau. ii, 1842, 149.— Sciil., Rev. Ciit. Ois. Eur. 1844, 110.— 

 Newt., P. Z. S. 1861, 99 (critical). 



Anscr enjthroxnis, Fi>E5I., Br. Au. 127. — Gray, Gen. of B. iii, 1849, 607.— ScuL., M. P.-B. 

 ix, Anseres 110. (According to Newtox, this is not enjtkropus of Linnceus, 

 which is temminckU, ZJoie,. and mimitits, Naiunann.) 



^'Anas casarca, Gm." 



(?) '^ Anser intermedins, Naum." 



(?) " Anser medius, Temm." 



(?) " Anser pallidipes, Selys." 



b. gambelL 



Anser alUfrons, Bp., Syu. 1823, 376.— Sw. & Ricu., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 466 (Mackenzie 

 River region north of 67°, and Arctic coast, breeding; Hudson's Bay). — Nutt., 

 Man. ii, 1834.346.— Aud., Oru. Biog., iii, 183.5, 568, pi. 286; Syn. 1839,272; B. Am. 

 Ti,.1843, 209, pi. 380.— Giu., B..L. I. 1844, 293.— Henuy, Pr. Phila. Acad. 18.55, 



