68 ANATIDAE 
Food.—Observations made of birds in captivity show 
that green vegetables form the chief diet, and water is 
frequently drunk. 
Voice.—The note has been syllabled shak-voy (Pallas). 
Flught.—The flight is strong and sustained. 
Nest.—Mr. Popham describes the nest as being placed at 
the foot of cliffs and well supplied with down. The eggs 
are creamy-white in colour. . 
Geographical distribution.—The Red-breasted Goose 
breeds in Arctic regions of Europe and Asia, notably in 
Siberia. The late Mr. Seebohm and Mr. Popham found it 
nesting on the Yenesel: on migration in winter it visits 
the European Continent, especially the Eastern section, as 
also Asia. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nwptial—Top of head, throat, 
and back of neck, black, thinly bordered with white; large 
white patch in front of the eye; breast and fore-neck, rich 
chestnut-red; a patch of the same colour surrounded by 
a white margin covering the ear; back, wings, and tail, 
nearly black, some of the wing-coverts being edged with 
white; abdomen white, barred on the flanks with black. 
Adult female nuptial.——Similar in plumage to the male. 
Adult winter, male and female.—Sinular to the nuptial 
plumage. 
Immature, male and female.—KEKar-patch less distinct 
than in the adult, being whitish with a chestnut centre ; 
breast, pale reddish; rest of plumage, brownish, except 
the abdomen and tail-coverts, which resemble those of the 
adult. 
Brak. Very dark brown. 
Ferrer. Very dark brown. 
Trives. Hazel. 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
Tora LENGTH... me Jee) MA ae 
WING He - te ie AY 
Brak ne =a Meg peli oe 
TARKSO-METATARSUS : ee Cees 
Kee a eae fi nem OTS as 
