THE AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 823 



At JNIoses Lake and again on tlie Culumbia Ri\er I ha\e seen a single 

 Snow Goose attach itself to a cumpan_\' of resident Canadas — in each case thru 

 se\-eral days observatii^n — appearing now alone and now in company with the 

 larger birds. A specimen taken May 9th, 1907, at \\'allula, was with three 

 Canada Geese (one pair and a presumed "auntie"' ). and these were very 

 reluctant to leave their fallen companion. 



The Snow Geese feed almost entirely on grasses, which the\' pluck by 

 main strength, after the familiar fashion of the domestic goose. In feeding 

 on low grounds they bring up herbage, roots and all, and thus acquire a taste 

 for certain bulbous roots, notably those of the sedges. The damage done by 

 this species to wheat fields is inconsiderable, but they do occasionallv bring 

 away the grain with the blade in the case of tender sprouts. 



The flesh of the Snow Goose, e\-en in the younger exami)les, is tough and 

 string}', and it is not at any time to be compared with that of the Bnnita 

 caiiadciisis group. 



No. 332. 



AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



A. O. U. No. 171 a. Anser albifrons gambeli ( Hartl. ). 



Synonyms. — L-\UGHixG GoosH. Gk.w nu.wT. Speckled P.r.wt. Speckle- 



BELLY. 



Description.^.-^rf»/f.- Forehead and region about the base of bill white, — the 

 latter narrowly, and bordered immediately by dusky ; remainder of head and neck 

 all around warm grayish brown : the same color continued on back, fore-breast, 

 and sides, but varied by lighter brownisli gray tips of squarish-ended feathers, thus 

 presenting a curious shingled appearance : underparts fading from grayish brown 

 of breast to pure white posteriorly : the breast and belly irregularly spotted or 

 heavily blotched with sooty black ; the primaries grayish at base, blackening distally 

 and with shafts mostly white: the tips of the greater coverts white, and the 

 superior edges of the main course of side feathers ( overlapping folded wing) also 

 white ; upper and lower tail-coverts, and lower belly well up on flank, and sides 

 under folded wing, white; a.xillars and lining of wing uniform dusky; tail brown- 

 ish dusky increasingly white-tipped on lateral feathers ; bill orange-yellow with 

 white nail; feet orange or reddish. Iniiiiatiirc: "Similar to adult, but forepart of 

 head dusky instead of white ; lower parts without black markings, and nail of bill 

 dusky" (Ridgw.). Length 27.00-30.00 (685,8-762) ; wing 16.85 '4-8) : tail 6.40 

 (162.6) ; bill 2.10 (53.3) ; tarsus 2.91 (73.9). 



Recognition Marks. — Large Pi rant size; speckled or black-blotched lielly; 

 rich grayish brown color; white partial mask of face. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in ^^'ashington. Nest: on the ground, of dried 

 grass or tundra moss, feathers, and down. Eggs: 6-7, dull greenish yellow, with 

 obscure darker tints. Av. size, 3.10x2.30 (78.7x58.4). 



