

WILD-GOOSE. NATATORES. ANSER. 267 



White-fronted Goose, Br. Zool. 2. 576. No. 268. t. 94. fig. 1 Arct. Zool. 

 2. No. 476 Lath. Syn. 6. 463. 22 Lewies Br. Birds, 6. 240 Mont. 

 Orn. Diet. 1. -BewicVs Br. Birds, ed. 1826, p. t. 294 Shaw's Zool. 

 12. 25. 



THE White-fronted Goose is one of our regular winter visi- Periodical 

 tants, and in the southern and midland parts of England v 

 appears, from the testimony of MONTAGU, to be more abun- 

 dant than the preceding species ; which is by no means the 

 case in the northern parts of the island, being there compa- 

 ratively of rare occurrence, and in small flocks. It varies 

 from the Bean- Goose, in preferring low and marshy districts, 

 to the upland and drier haunts of that bird ; and in these 

 localities subsists on the aquatic grasses, being very seldom Food, 

 seen to frequent corn or stubble fields. A specimen sent to 

 me (and which was killed near Alnwick, in Northumber- 

 land), had its stomach gorged with the tender shoots and 

 leaves of the common clover (Trifolium pratense), upon 

 which it was feeding, on the breaking up of a severe snow- 

 storm. In size the large males nearly equal Anser palustris^ 

 some of them weighing as much as seven pounds ; and in 

 the market are frequently sold for the common species, but 

 may at once be distinguished by the white forehead, and the 

 black patches, which are never totally wanting on the breast 

 and belly. During its winter or equatorial migration this 

 species is numerous in Holland, and also in some districts of 

 France and Germany. Its geographical distribution in- 

 cludes Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. In 

 summer it retires within the Arctic Circle, and rears its 

 young in those sequestered and tranquil regions, the nursery 

 of such various tribes of the feathered race. In England 

 these birds disappear on the first approach of spring, and 

 some time before the departure of the Lag and Bean Geese ; 

 few being ever seen after the middle of March. As an ar- 

 ticle of food the White-fronted is equal to any of the others, 

 its flesh being well-flavoured and tender, provided the sub- 

 ject be not too far advanced in years. 



