THE AMERIC. AN WHITE- FRC )NTED GOOSE. 823 
At Moses Lake and again on the Columbia River I have seen a single 
Snow Goose attach itself to a company of resident Canadas—in each case thru 
several days observation—appearing now alone and now in company with the 
larger birds. A specimen taken May oth, 1907, at Wallula, was with three 
Canada Geese (one pair and a presumed “‘auntie”), and these were very 
reluctant to leave their fallen companion. 
The Snow Geese feed almost entirely on grasses, which they pluck by 
main strength, after the familiar fashion of the domestic goose. In feeding 
on low grounds they bring up herbage, roots and all, and thus acquire a taste 
for certain bulbous roots, notably those of the sedges. The damage done by 
this species to wheat fields is inconsiderable, but they do occasionally bring 
away the grain with the blade in the case of tender sprouts. 
The flesh of the Snow Goose, even in the younger examples, is tough and 
stringy, and it is not at any time to be compared with that of the Branta 
canadensis group. 
' AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 
MA. O. U. No. 171 a. Anser albifrons gambeli (Hartl. ) 
Synonyms.—LAUGHING Goosk. GRAY BRANT. SPECKLED BRANT. SPECKLE- 
BELLY. 
Description.—4dult: Forehead and region about the base of bill white——the 
latter narrowly, and bordered immediately by dusky ; remainder of head and neck 
all around warm grayish brown; the same color continued on back, fore-breast, 
and sides, but varied by lighter brownish gray tips of squarish-ended feathers, thus 
presenting a curious shingled appearance; underparts fading from grayish brown 
of breast to pure white posteriorly; the breast and belly irregularly spotted or 
heavily blotched with sooty black; the primaries grayish at base, blackening distally 
and with shafts mostly white; the tips of the greater coverts white, and the 
superior edges of the main course of side feathers (overlapping folded wing) also 
white; upper and lower tail-coverts, and lower belly well up on flank, and sides 
under folded wing, white; axillars and lining of wing uniform dusky; tail brown- 
ish dusky increasingly white-tipped on lateral feathers ; bill orange-yellow with 
white nail; feet orange or reddish. Jmmature: “Similar to adult, but forepart of 
head dusky instead of white; lower parts without black markings, and nail of bill 
dusky” (Ridgw.). Length 27.00-30.00 (685.8-762) ; wing 16.85 (428) ; tail 6.40 
(62) ablation (5eesn i areas ZO (73:9) 
Recognition Marks.—Large Brant size; speckled or black-blotched belly; 
rich grayish brown color; white partial mask of face. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Nest: on the ground, of dried 
grass or tundra moss, feathers, and down. Eggs: 6-7, dull greenish yellow, with 
obscure darker tints. Av. size, 3.10 x 2.30 (78.7 x 58.4). 
