394 SNOW-GOOSE. 



Mr. Whymper is at the head of the present article. There is some 

 evidence that three birds sold at the dispersal of the Knowsley 

 menagerie (Lord Derby's) had been obtained in Ireland. On August 

 22nd 1884 the Rev. H. A. Macpherson and others identified an 

 adult bird on the coast near AUonby in Cumberland. 



The home of the Snow-Goose is in North America, where two 

 forms are found, distinguishable only in size. The larger breeds in 

 the Hudson Bay region, migrating southward along the Atlantic 

 coast in winter. The smaller, to which — strange as this may 

 appear — the specimens obtained in Ireland clearly belong, is the 

 only one which breeds in Western Arctic America and Alaska, 

 visiting the country between the Pacific and the Mississippi valley 

 during the cold season. It is this race which occurs in Japan and 

 is found in North-eastern Siberia, where it was obtained and de- 

 scribed by Pallas under the specific name hyperboreus {C/ien albatus 

 of Cassin) ; and to this probably belong the Snow-Geese which 

 have from time to time been noticed in the Ural district, Greece, 

 Germany down to Silesia, and Heligoland ; while in the south of 

 France two have been obtained out of flocks. One or perhaps both 

 forms go as far as the Bermudas, Texas and Cuba. 



Mr. MacFarlane describes the nests as being placed near lakes, 

 in hollows formed in the sandy soil, and well lined with down ; 

 the eggs, usually 5 in number, are dirty chalky-white : average 

 measurements 3'4 by 2-2 in. The young fly in the middle of 

 August, and by the end of September all have departed south. 

 The food in summer consists of green rushes, insects &c., and in 

 autumn of berries, especially those of Empetrum nigrum. Another 

 member of this genus, C. carulesce/is, differs only in having a 

 varying amount of lead-coloured markings irregularly disposed over 

 its plumage ; and it has been suggested that this and the Snow- 

 Goose may be, respectively, coloured and white phases of the same 

 bird, like those that exist in the case of some of the American 

 Herons. There is a third white species, C. rossi, a very small bird. 



The adult has the quill-feathers black, greyish at the base, as are 

 also the coverts ; remaining plumage pure white, the forehead some- 

 times stained with orange-rust colour ; bill red, commissures black, 

 nail whitish ; legs and feet red. Length : male 28-30 in., wing 

 17-18 in. ; female 23*3-24 in., wing 15-16 in. The young bird has 

 the upper parts dull brownish-grey with darker centres to the feathers 

 of the back and wing-coverts ; under parts greyish-white ; bill black ; 

 legs and feet lead-colour. 



