400 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



those of Denmark and Western Europe as far as the Mediterranean. 

 It goes rather far north to breed ; for Mr. Pearson found it on both 

 islands of Novaya Zemlya, and Mr. Popham informs me that it is 

 plentiful on the Lower Yenesei. Middendorff describes it as the 

 commonest Goose in the Taimyr district, whence, in the cold season, 

 it migrates as far south as Shanghai and Northern India. Westward, 

 its lines of migration seem to be down the Volga and other great 

 river-valleys to Syria, Egypt and Nubia. This species was domesti- 

 cated by the ancient Egyptians, as shown by paintings on a slab 

 from Maydoom, as well as on others in the temple of Amada in 

 Nubia, and in the British Museum. 



The bird which breeds in the northern districts of Scandinavia 

 and on the fjelds, is characterized by smaller size, somewhat darker 

 plumage, and a short bill straight ridged from the tip to the forehead, 

 on which the white extends beyond the line of the eye. By those 

 who admit its claim to specific rank this is known as the Lesser 

 White-fronted Goose, Anser erythropus of Linnaeus, and a young 

 male of this was shot by the late Mr. A. C. Chapman at Holy 

 Island in Northumberland, on Sept. i6th 1886. The late Mr. 

 Seebohm obtained this form — as I consider it — on the Yenesei, and 

 the area which it visits on migration appears to be nearly identical 

 with the range of the larger and more numerous bird. The White- 

 fronted Goose which is found in Greenland and in America up to 

 72° N. lat. {A. gambeli), is a very large bird, with a great deal more 

 black on the breast, abdomen, and flanks, and much darker under 

 wing-coverts ; it occurs as far west as Alaska, and visits the northern 

 Asiatic coast. 



The nidification of the White-fronted Goose is like that of its 

 congeners; the 5-7 creamy-white eggs measure 3 in. by 2 in. For 

 its feeding-grounds this species appears to prefer fields of grass and 

 clover to stubbles. It breeds in captivity, and has been known to 

 produce a brood by union with a Bernacle Goose. 



The adult male has a white frontal band ; upper plumage brownish- 

 ash ; breast and belly brownish-white, broadly barred with black ; bill 

 orange-yellow, with a white nail at the tip ; legs, toes and webs 

 orange. Length 27 in. ; wing 16 in. Good weight, 6| lbs. The 

 female is rather smaller and has less black on the breast. The 

 young are darker and more uniform in colour, and the feathers at 

 the base of the upper mandible do not show any white till January ; 

 while there are no black markings on the breast in females ; and 

 the bill-nail is light brown. 





