WHITE-FEONTED GEESE. 507 



but Dall once found ten eggs in one nest in Alaska. They are creamy 

 white in colour, and vary in length from 3'1 to 2'8 inch, and in breadth 

 from 2'1 to 1/9 inch. 



The White-fronted Goose is about the size of the Bean-Goose, and is 

 subject to the same variation. It resembles the Bean-Goose in the colour 

 of its plumage ; but the underparts are still more sprinkled over with 

 nearly black feathers than is the case in the Grey Goose, and^the white 

 feathers at the base of the bill are much more developed, especially on the 

 forehead, where they sometimes extend between the eyes, especially in the 

 smaller examples. It further resembles the Grey Goose in having no 

 black on the base or tip of the bill, which is yellow, paler on the nail ; legs 

 and feet yellow ; irides hazel. The variation in length of wing is quite as 

 great as in length of bill, the smallest examples measuring less than 

 12| inches and the largest more than 17 inches. 



Young in first plumage differ from adults in having no white feathers at 

 the base of the bill and no dark brown feathers on the underparts. Birds 

 of the year are intermediate between young in first plumage and adults in 

 both these respects. The nearest ally of the White-fronted Goose is un- 

 questionably the Grey Goose. Young in first plumage somewhat resemble 

 Pink-footed or Bean-Geese, but may at once be distinguished by the absence 

 of the black base of the bill. 



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



