824 



THE AMI-:RK' \X WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



General Range. — Xorth America (rare on tlic Atlantic Coast), breeding far 

 iKirtliward : in winter sdutli t" Cape St. Lucas, Mexico and Cuba. 



Range in Washington. — Xdt coinnKin migrant. Locally and sjiaringly resi- 

 dent in winter. 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Ex. (1814) Ed 

 Vol H. p. 191 f.| ./. gciiiibclii. Hartl., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R, 

 p. 762. T. C&S. Rh. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens. — Prov. 



Biddle : Coues. 

 Snrv. T.\. 1S3R, 



CxENERALlZATIONS in regard to ilie aliimdance of water fowl are 

 becoming increasingly unsafe. We only know that they are diminishing in 

 numbers at a frightful rate. Add to the fact that the population of tlie Pacific 

 sloi)e has nndliplied tenfold in three decades, the further fact that the ]iros- 

 pectors and miners of Alaska ha\e begun to strike at the sotirce of sup])ly, and 

 \-ou have a condition to give statesmen patise. In tlie great grain fields of 

 middle California these White-fronted Geese were foniierl)- so abundant as to 

 be a real menace to the cro])s, and to necessitate the constant x'igilance of 

 watchmen. lUit those days ha\-e i)assed. along with those in wdiich the Wild 



Pigeon darkened the east- 

 ei'ii sun. 



In the autumnal migra- 

 tions the flight of these 

 geese is chiellv coastwise. 

 Tliev move rapidl\- in 

 great wedge-shaijed com- 

 ])anies with self-appointed 

 leaders, and the\- fill the 

 air with harsh, loud cries, 

 rapid iterations of the 

 syllable tiv///. from wdiich 

 they have won the name 

 "Laughing Geese." These 

 birds are in splendid condition in late September, having been fattened tipon 

 the abundant heath-berries of the Alaskan lowdands : and those which ha\c 

 pasttired on California wheat are hardlv less toothsome in spring. ;dtho it is 

 a shame to kill them at that season. 



Apro|)os of an interest aside from the gastronomic, it is a pleasure to cite 

 the e.\am])le nf llie Commissioners of the ('.olden Gate Park in San Francisco. 

 Here wild birds are not only protected but systematically fed, and as a result 

 wild fowd ha\'e been attracted in large variety, some of them so rare that thev 

 are mere names to most naturalists. Thus on the occasion of a \isit to Stow 

 Lake, in the P'ark mentioned. earl\- in lanuarv. ii;o6. Mr. Wallei' K. Fisher, 



Tiilu^n in Sen F?-aiici-<. 



I'lialf by II'. K. Fisher. 



AMERIC.W WHITE-FROXTF.D GliESE. 



