32 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



ANSER ALBIFRONS (Gmelin.) 

 WHITE-FKONTED GOOSE. 



This species, which is never observed in very large 

 flocks, can scarcely be called a regular winter visitant,* 

 being rarely seen in our markets, except in severe 

 weather. As an exception , however, to this rule, in 

 the mild winter of 1851-2, as before stated, a very 

 unusual number of wild geese were shot in different 

 parts of the county ; and on the 20th of December, 

 the Norwich market exhibited the unusual appearance, 

 amongst other fowl, of two couple and a half of white- 

 fronted, with bean and bernacle geese from Hickling 

 and other localities; and another white-fronted, from 

 Blakeney, was sent up to Norwich the same day. All 

 these birds were in perfect plumage the white-fronted 

 geese, from the markings on the breast, being evidently 

 adult but their poor condition seemed to indicate 

 " hard times," although, the weather was then unusually 

 mild with us, and continued so up to the following 

 February. Only in two or three unusually severe winters 

 have I known wild geese so plentiful as in that excep- 

 tional season, when I examined upwards of twenty, of 

 various species, for sale in this city. 



From Mr. DowelPs notes, for the same year 1851 

 I find that on the 18th of December he saw a flock 

 of some twenty white-fronted geese at Holkham ; and 

 on the same day he received a fine specimen which had 



* Folkhard in " the Wild-fowler" (p. 190), refers to a remark of 

 Col. Hawker's that these birds were unknown to the gunners of 

 the Hampshire coast till the year 1830, and that he had seen more 

 there since, from which Folkard infers that it is only in the severest 

 winters they visit the south coast, though, from his own expe- 

 rience, he states, "I have every winter met with some of these 

 birds on the eastern coast." 



