522 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



margins of the mandible. There is, besides, a black spot on each 

 side of the beak between its upper ridge and the nostril, this spot 

 being broad where it commences at the sides of the forehead, and 

 running out into a point above the anterior margin of the nostril. 

 In iny example, there was in addition a further small dark spot 

 between the first dark spot and the mandible. The beak of this 

 species measures, in the old bird, 1*69 in. (43 mm.) from the fore- 

 head to the tip ; in A. cinereus, 2'24 ins. (57 mm.) to 2'36 ins. (60 

 mm.) ; and in A. segetum, 2'76 ins. (70 mm.), these measurements 

 being taken from old males in my collection. 



The Pink-footed Goose is accounted an Arctic breeding species. 

 Seebohm, in regard to its breeding quarters, says definitely that it 

 nests in Spitzbergen, probably in Iceland, and possibly in Franz- 

 Joseph Land. It occurs, however, on migration in China and 

 Japan, whence AVC may assume that its breeding range extends to 

 the Polar area north of the Jeannette Islands, for the existence of 

 which we have endeavoured to adduce proofs when treating of the 

 species of Tringa. 



317. White-fronted Goose [BLASSGANS] 

 ANSER ALBIFRONS, Bechstein. 1 



Anser albifrons. Naumann, xi. 351. 



White-fronted Goose. Dresser, vi. 375. 



Oie rieuse. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 821, iv. 518. 



Only two examples of this species have occurred during the 

 long period of years over which my observations have extended. 

 About forty years ago the brothers Aeuckens managed to secure 

 alive a very fine old male, which had been slightly wounded. The 

 bird used to run about freely in a yard, and throve so well that after 

 six weeks its wound was completely healed, and it flew away again, 

 much to my regret and that of its owners, as it was an extremely 

 handsome bird. The second example was shot two or three years 

 ago. It is a rather young bird, in which the white marking of the 

 forehead only consists of small scattered feathers, which are commen- 

 cing to break through the blackish-brown colour around the beak. 



This species touches Heligoland probably only on very rare 

 occasions. Among the large numbers of Grey Lag Geese which 

 migrate over and past the island, one never observes individuals 

 small enough to allow one to regard them as belonging to this 

 species. The breeding range extends along the Arctic coasts of 

 Asia and the groups of islands which skirt them. Von Midden- 

 dorff found it nesting in the Taimyr Peninsula in 74 N. lat. ; and 



1 Anser albifrons (Scop.). 



