48 WATER FOWL. 



vated fields and picks up the grain scattered over the 

 ground, but as a rule it is a vegetable feeder. It is not 

 uncommon on the coasts of Great Britain, and in Egypt 

 I found it the most abundant of the Geese that are accus- 

 tomed to resort to the Nile. This species breeds near 

 fresh-water ponds not far removed from the coast, de- 

 positing its eggs in a depression in the ground, lined 

 with down. These are like those laid in America 

 as may be supposed, yellowish-white, and six to eight in 

 number. This Goose was well known to the ancient 

 Egyptians, and its portrait frequently appears upon their 

 monuments, and one of the earliest pictures of birds 

 known to exist was found in a tomb at Mayoum, Egypt, 

 and represents this species. 



ANSER A LB I FRO NS. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern portions of both Hem- 

 ispheres, extending eastward to Japan. General throughout 

 North America, south in winter to Cape St. Lucas, Mexico, and 

 Cuba. Rare,on the Atlantic coast. Greenland. 



Adult. — Fore part of head, white, bounded posteriorly with a 

 narrow, almost imperceptible,, line of black. Rest of head and 

 neck, dark brown; in some specimens the upper part of head and 

 nape is very dark brown, causing this part to appear like a cap. 

 Back and wings, grayish brown, feathers tipped with white. 

 Greater wing coverts ash gray, tipped with white. Primaries, 

 black. Rump, slate brown. Lower parts, grayish white, blotched 

 with black, the amount of these blotches varying greatly among 

 individuals. Upper and under tail coverts, white. Tail, dark 

 grayish brown, the feathers edged and tipped with white. Iris, 

 dark brown. Bill, orange yellow ; nail, white. Legs and feet, 

 orange or orange red. Average total length, 28 inches; wing, 

 about i5i; tarsus, 2\\ culmen, iJ\,. 



Young. — No white on the head, which is all dark brown, and 

 no black marking on the under parts; nail of bill, du.sky. 



Downy Young. — Middle of crown and entire back, including 



