58 



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Anser albifrons (Scopoli). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, 'Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 4; 

 Dresser, 'Birds of Europe/ vol. vi, pi. 414; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 21 ; Alpheraky, * Geese 

 of Europe and Asia,' pi. 4. 



The White-fronted is smaller than either the Grey Lag 

 or Bean-Goose, and its plumage is handsome and variegated. 

 It derives its name from a rather conspicuous white patch 

 on the forehead, but at a distance, this is not by any means 

 the most distinguishing feature of the coloration. 



The White-fronted Goose is most easily identified among 

 a mixed assemblage of geese, by the broad jet-black bars 

 which traverse its breast. These beautiful markings have 

 given rise to the popular name of ' Tortoise-shell Goose ' as 

 applied to this species. 



It is very interesting to watch a large gathering or 

 ' gaggle ' of these birds. As a rule they can only be 

 observed in the distance and by means of a binocular, as 

 they are shy and watchful. Sometimes the flock may con- 

 sist of more than one species of goose. For instance, I 

 recollect seeing numbers alight on a marsh in a valley on 

 the wild coast of western Kerry. I made my observations 

 on a hill-side about a quarter of a mile away. To the best 

 of my belief, the flock consisted of some fifty birds, out of 

 which over forty were White-fronted, and the remainder 

 Bean-Geese. 1 Two of the latter species appeared to act as 

 sentinels. It took me fully half an hour to distinguish the 

 two species, for it was necessary to watch through my 

 binocular until each bird, in turn, faced me so that the 

 transverse black bars, or the absence of such, on the breast, 

 could be discerned. Continuing my observations, I noted 

 how the birds slowly paraded through the marshy grass. 

 Most of them were heading in the same direction, and now 

 and then one would halt to preen its feathers, while a 

 few others steered leisurely across a- muddy pond ; the 

 greater part of the flock, however, were engaged in feeding, but 

 a few were resting, each supported on one leg. As the birds 



1 It might be suggested that the supposed Bean- Geese were only the 

 sombre -plumed immature White-fronted Geese. But this is unlikely for 

 two reasons, (a) immature birds do not act as sentinels to the flock, (6) 

 the numbers of adults in a flock would hardly exceed the immature 

 birds to such an extent. 



