190 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
darker brown than those on cr@@™m ; black blotches on breast 
almost entirely absent ; bill pale brownish at tip. 
Distribution: Breeds in the northern portions of the 
Palearctic region, migrating southward in autumn as far as 
Northern Africa and India. 
Habitat: Marshy localities ; grass fields, &c. 
LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 
Anser erythropus (Zzzz). 
Adult Male: A small form of the White-fronted Goose, with 
darker plumage, though otherwise closely resembling 4. a/dz- 
Jrons ; bill pinkish-white, the nail horn-colour ; legs and feet 
orange-yellow ; irides brown. Length 20 inches; culmen 1°5 ; 
wing 15°55 tals tarsus! 225. 
Adult Female: Resembles the male, but is smaller, 
rather duller and more rufescent in tinge of colour (Dresser) 
Young: Unknown. 
Distribution: Breeds in Arctic Russia and Siberia, mi- 
grating southward in autumn. 
Habitat: Similar to that of A. albifrons. 
WNote,—This species, like the preceding one, is variable in size, 
Genus BERNICLA. 
BRENT GOOSE. 
Bernicla brenta (Pa//). 
Adult (Eastern Form): Zack, scapulars, wing-coverts 
and tertiaries dvownish-black ; crown, neck, chest, wings, rump 
and tail black, ox ecther side of neck a white patch, not meeting 
in front, marked with black ; feathers of lower part of breast 
and abdomen slaty-grey with paler margins; vent, upper and 
under tail-coverts white ; bill, legs, feet and claws black ; 
irides dark brown. Lezgth 2z to 23 inches; culmen 1°5 ; wing 
1e*s: tol 18% tailia-e)s tarsus 2% 
Immature Birds: Upper parts much browner than in the 
adult, dark brown taking the place of black on head, wings, 
&c., white neck patches absent ; under parts similar to adult. 
