106 



AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 



17 la. Anser albifrons yambeli. 28 in. 



Forehead, white; head and neck gray; under parts 

 mixed black and white; feet yellow: bill pinkish: eye 

 brown. These geese reach the U. S. on their return from 

 the Arctic regions about the first of October; they are 

 very abundant on the Pacific coast and fairly common 

 in the ^Mississippi Valley, but are rare on the Atlantic 

 coast. They are very noisy birds and in some sections 

 of the country are known as Laughing Geese. From 

 being shot at so frequently, they are very wild and 

 difficult to approach, sentinels being stationed to give 

 alarm if danger approaches, when they are feeding. 



Notes. A confused honking, likened to laughter. 



Nest. Of grasses on the ground, usually in marshes: 

 nearly always lined with down from the 'breast of the 

 female. The four to nine eggs are buffy (3.00x2.03) : 

 May, June. 



Range. Breeds in the Arctic regions, chiefly we>t of 

 Hudson Bay; winters south to the Gulf coast and Calif.; 

 rare on the Atlantic coast. 



