280 ANATIDJ:. 



In the adult Snow Goose the entire plumage, except the 

 primaries, is snow white, the forehead sometimes stained 

 with orange-rust colour ; primary quill-feathers hlack, 

 fading at the hase into greyish ; the coverts of the latter 

 colour. Bill red, the nail whitish, space between the 

 commissures black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet purple- 

 or orange-red, the soles dingy yellowish. 



The young is dull brownish-grey on the upper parts, the 

 face white, the feathers on the scapular tipped and margined 

 with whitish ; quills black, fading to grey at the base, the 

 shafts white, shading to brown towards the tips ; rump and 

 upper tail-coverts white ; tail white, the central feathers 

 marked grey in the middle ; under parts white, washed with 

 grey on the fore part of the breast and neck ; bill nearly 

 black, with a reddish tinge, especially on the lower mandible ; 

 legs and feet lead-colour, running to yellowish- red on the 

 webs ; iris brown. 



Total length about thirty inches ; wing from fifteen to 

 eighteen and a half inches ; culmen from two to two and a 

 half inches ; tarsus from two and three quarters to three and 

 a quarter inches. The female is smaller than the male. 



The young bird in the downy stage is as yet unknown. 



