CLASSIFIED NOTES 537 



uniform pearl-grey, the latter submarginally banded with deep black and tipped with white; 

 mantle and back uniform deep cinnamon rufous, as also the lesser and median wing-coverts ; 

 primary flight-feathers dark brown; throat buffish white; remainder of the under parts, includ- 

 ing the axillaries, vinous buff, each feather with a spot of black towards the tip, giving these 

 parts a spotted appearance; axillaries and under wing-coverts white, spotted with black. The 

 adult female resembles the female of the common-kestrel, but has the claws white, and has 

 the barring of the plumage more sharply defined, while the ground colour is of a brighter 

 hue; iris dark brown; bill bluish horn-colour, black at the tip; cere, orbits, and feet yellow; 

 nails white, [w. P. P. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in the Mediterranean region and Western Asia. It nests plenti- 

 fully in Southern Spain, and also breeds in Southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia, Styria, Carniola, 

 Dalmatia, Croatia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Crete, Poland according 

 to Taczanowski,but this seems to require confirmation, South Russia and the Crimea. In Africa 

 it breeds from Marocco to Tunisia, and in Asia from Asia Minor, Cyprus, Palestine, Persia, and 

 Turkestan to Bokhara. In China it is replaced by an allied race. In winter it migrates south 

 through Mesopotamia, Arabia, Egypt, and North-west Africa to Tropical Africa, occasionally 

 ranging south to Cape Colony and Natal. East Asiatic birds winter in India. As a straggler it 

 has occurred in N. France, N. Germany, and about ten times in the British Isles (eight times 

 in England, and once each Scotland and Ireland). [F. c. R. j.] 



THE GEESE 1 



[ORDEH : A user iformes. SCBORDER: Anseres. FAMILY: Anatidcc. SUBFAMILY: Anserine] 



LESSER WHITEFRONTED-GOOSE [Anscr finmdrchicus Gunner; Anaer erythropus 

 (Linnaeus). German, Zwerg-Gans], 



1. Description. Distinguished from the whitefronted-goose (see vol. iv. p. 153) by its 

 smaller size and by the white on the forehead, which is more extensive, and reaches to a line 

 between the eyes on the top of the head. The sexes are alike in coloration, but the female is 

 smaller. Length 21 in. [533 mm.], culmen about 1-3 [33 mm.], wing 14-5-15 [367-380 mm.], 

 [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in Northern Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia; in Norway in Fin- 

 mark and in S. Varanger and the Tana valley ; in Sweden chiefly on the high fjeld of North 

 Lapland, but south to Karesuando and Quickjock ; in N. Finland chiefly in the Kilpisjarvi, 

 Enontekis, Enare, and Utsjoki districts ; and in Russia on Kolguev, Novaya Zemlia, and the 

 Kanin Peninsula (Buturlin). In Asia it is found on the lower reaches of the Ob, Yenisei, Lena, 

 Yana, and Kolyma (rarely), as well as on the Taimyr Peninsula and in Chukchiland. Its normal 

 winter quarters are Japan, China, Mongolia, India (rarely), Turkestan, and the shores of the 

 Caspian, while it occurs in great numbers in North Russia west to the Baltic Provinces on 

 migration, and also visits Eastern and South-eastern Europe, occasionally straying west to 

 Germany, the Low Countries, France, and Spain. Two definite records at least from England 

 (Northumberland and Norfolk), and others somewhat doubtful. Also recorded from Egypt. 

 [F. c. R. J.] 



SNOWGOOSE [Anser hyperborens hyperbdreus Pallas; ClUn hyperbdreus Pallas. White- 

 wavey. French, oie de niege ; German, Sclinee-Gans], 



1. Description. Recognised by its white plumage, with the exception of the primary 

 feathers, which are black for the terminal two-thirds and light grey at the base; primary 



1 Vol. iv. p. 151. 



