292 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



as long as they could remember. There is, of course, no way of deter- 

 mining how old the birds may have been when wounded, but if all were 

 only in their first year, they would now be 66 years old, which presents 

 an unusual record of longevity even for geese. 



Captain O'Connell wrote that Andrews secured six geese in 1868, 

 three of which were lesser snow geese (Chen hyperhorea hyperborea) 

 and three white-fronted geese (Anser alhifrons alhifrons). Two of the 

 white geese escaped from the pen last winter and were shot by some 

 boys so but one white goose and three "gray" ones survive at this 

 time. The white-fronted geese mate but do not lay eggs. One of them 

 is blind in one eye and its other eye is now starting to turn white. 

 The accompanying illustration (Fig. 113) is from a photograph taken 

 prior to the escape of the snow geese and shows two of these birds with 

 the three "gray" ones. — James Moffitt, May 3, 1934. 



. T^r ii»tap^K:^sfc'Bir'rTf»s. . _\i 'a 



Fig. 113. 



Three white-fronted and two lesser snow geese wounded near Lodi in 

 1868 and now in possession of Louis Springer of that city. 



SAND-GROUSE LIBERATED IN CALIFORNIA 



An experimental introduction of sand-grouse was made to Ana- 

 verde Valley, west of Palmdale, Los Angeles County, in March, 1934. 

 Twenty-one birds, ten pairs and an extra female, comprised this initial 

 California planting. 



Sand-grouse, of which there are 17 species and three genera, com- 

 prise an order of birds having characters of grouse and pigeons. Most 

 species of sand-grouse, including the birds recently liberated in Cali- 

 fornia, superficially resemble ptarmigan or red grouse in size and con- 

 formation excepting that they have weaker feet and legs than grouse 

 and longer, more pointed wings like pigeons. On account of their weak 

 feet and legs, sand-grouse are said to be unable to alight elsewhere 

 than on the ground, where they also roost at night. In spite of this 

 fact, they are said to be well able to cope with natural enemies, for an 

 open situation is selected for roosting where the birds remain excep- 

 tionally alert and escape their enemies by rapid flight. Their power of 



