THE SNOW GOOSE. 119 



THE SNOW GOOSE. (Anas hjperborea.) 



This species, called on the sea-coast the Red Goose, arrivei 

 in the river Delaware, from the north, early in November, 

 sometimes in considerable flocks, and is extremely noisy 

 their notes being shriller and more squeaking than those of 

 the Canada, or Common Wild Goose. On their first arrival 

 they make but a short stay, proceeding, as the depth of 

 winter approaches, farther to the south; but from the 

 middle of February, until the breaking up of the ice in 

 March, they are frequently numerous along both shores of 

 the Delaware, about and below Reedy Island, particularly 

 near Old Duck Creek, in the state of Delaware. They feed 

 on the roots of the reeds there, tearing them up from the 

 marshes like hogs. Their flesh, like most others of their 

 tribe, that feed on vegetables, is excellent. 



The Snow Goose is two feet eight inches in length, and 

 five feet in extent; the bill is three inches in length, 

 remarkably thick at the base, and rising high in the fore- 

 head, but becomes small and compressed at the extremity, 

 where each mandible is furnished with a whitish rounding 

 nail; the colour of the bill is a purplish carmine; the edges 

 of the two mandibles separate from each ether, inm singular 

 manner, for their whole length, and this gibbosity is occu- 

 pied by dentated rows, resembling teeth, these, and the 

 jMurts adjoining, being of a blackish colour; the wholi 

 plumage is of a snowy whiteness, with the exception, fireii 



