THE SNOW GOOSE. 265 



CHAPTER XXVin. 



THE SNOW GOOSE. 

 (^Anser Hyberoreous.^) 



LENGTH, 32 inches ; extent, 60 inches ; bill, 3 inches, 

 purplish carmine color, very thick at the base, rising 

 high in the forehead, small and compressed at the ex- 

 tremity, terminating in a whitish, rounding nail ; the 

 edges of the two mandibles separate their whole length 

 in a singular manner ; the gibbosity occupied by dental 

 rows resembling teeth; which, with the parts adjoining, 

 are of blackish color. 



Plumage, snowy white, except the forepart of the 

 head all round as far as the eyes, which is yellowish rust 

 color, mixed with white, and except the nine exterior 

 quill feathers, which are black, shafted with white, and 

 white at the roots. The coverts of these and of the 

 bastard wing sometimes pale ash color. 



Legs and feet, purplish carmine ; iris, dark hazel ; 

 tail rounded, of sixteen feathers ; the tongue is horny 

 at the extremity, and armed on each side with thirteen 

 long, sharp, bony teeth, placed like those of a saw, with 

 their points inclined backward. 



The Snow Goose,while almost a total stranger to many 

 hunters in Eastern, Middle and some Western States, 



