75 ANIHER ALBIFRUNS. 



DIMENSIOKS. 

 Avenge measurements of specimens from North America. Lenijth, SS-fiO; stretch, 58-50; wing, 15-55; tail, 5-G5; bilt, 

 ■2-05; tarsas, •2-95. Longest specimen, 3r00; greatest extent of wing, 62-00; longestwing, 17-00; tail. 5-80; bill, 2' 10; tai-sus, 

 U-12. Sh<u-test specimen, 26-00; smallest extent of wing, 55-00; shortest wing, 14-00; tail, 5-50; bill, 2 00; tarsus, 2-80. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Ni-:.''. placed on the grounil in marshy plac<s, composed of grass, weeds, etc. E(/gs, from five to eight in number, el- 

 liptical in form, yellewish-white in color. Dimensions from 1-90x2-80 to2-00x;j-00. 



HABITS. 



The Snow Goose is exceedingly rare in the section east of the Mississippi, south of 

 Canada, and I have never seen a specimen living. It is, however, abundant in the West 

 during winter, when it is described as having similar habits to those of other Geese. It 

 breeds in the far North. 



ANSER ALBirRONS. 

 White-fronted Goose. 

 Anser albifrons Beciist., Naturg. IV, 898. 

 DESCRIPTION, 

 ijt Ch "siae, large. Form, robust. Color. Adult. Above and on sides, bluish-gray, becoming brownish on lieail 

 and neck. Foit-nead, upper tail coverts, and under portions, excepting neck, white, becoming grayish anteriorly, where it 

 is irregularly blotched with black. Wings ashy-gray, becoming dark-brown on secondaries and tips of primaries: the great- 

 er coverts, tipped vrith white. Tail feathers, brown, also tipped with white. Axillaries and under surface of wings, plum- 

 beous. Iris, brown: hill and feet, red. Young. Similar but paler, and less spotted beneath. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the white forehead and spotted breast. Distributed, in summer, througliout Arctic America, wintering 

 in the West. Rare in New England during the migrations. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 29-00; stretch, 59-00; wing, 16-20; tail, 535; bill, 

 1-95; lar.sus, 265. Longest specimen, 29"75; greatest extent of wing, 59-85; longest wing, 16-45; tait, 5-55; bill, 2-05; tar- 

 sus, 2-85. Shortest specimen, 28 00; smallest extentof wing, 58-25; shortest wing, 15-95; tail, 5-15; bill, 1-85; tarsus, 2-40. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of weeds, grass, etc. Eyys, sis to ten in number, elliptical 

 in form, yellowish-white in color. Dimensions from 2-05x295 to 2-10x3-20. 



HABITS. 



Like the Snow Goose, the White-front is seldom seen in New England or southward 



but is very abundiuit in the West, where numbers are shot every season, and from which 



point they are sent into our markets during cold weather. Like nearly all members of the 



present ordtsr, these birds are also migratory, breeding in the far North. Both this and 



the preceding species are occasionally taken by gunners on the coast of North Carolina. 



GENUS III. BERNICLA. SHORT-BILLED GEESE. 



Gex. Cn, Bill , nut quite as long as head and black in color. Hind toe, quite short. Marginal indentations, very wide 

 and open. 



Members of this genus are very dark in color, with few or no conspicuous marks of white. Traaiiea, straight, without 

 dilatation. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 



BERNICLA CANADENSIS. 

 Canada Goose. 

 Bernicia Canadensis Boie., Isis: 1826, 921. 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. On. Form, robust. Size, large. Tail feathers, from fourteen to twenty. Color. Adult. General color, smoky- 

 brown bccorain;; paler hi-ncath, with edges of feathers becoming lighter. Head, neck, rump, tips of jirimaries, and tail 



