66 ANATHXE 



Quite recently a number of occurrences have been 

 recorded from Ireland as follows : 



October 28th, 1903 ; a female bird in mature plumage 

 shot in a stubble-field in co. Longford, and sent to Williams 

 and Son for preservation ; a second in immature plumage 

 shot the same day in the same place ; this specimen was 

 not preserved. 



November, 1903 ; a flock of eight Snow-Geese seen by 

 Capt. Kirkwood and his daughter at Bartragh, co. Mayo. 



December 1st, 1903; four seen by Mr. G. F. Knox 

 at Foxford, co. Mayo (Williams, 'Zoologist,' 1903, p. 459, 

 and K. Warren, ibid., 1904, p. 32, also G. F. Knox, 'Irish 

 Naturalist,' 1904, p. 76). 



Flight. The flight is strong and sustained. 



Voice. The voice is loud and harsh. 



Food. The Snow-Goose partakes of a rather mixed 

 diet ; in summer, green rushes and insects are eaten ; in 

 autumn, berries (Saunders). 



Nest. The nest is usually placed near water " in hollows 

 formed in the sandy soil, and well lined with down; 

 the eggs, usually five in number, are chalky- white " (Saun- 

 ders) . 



Geographical distribution. There are two forms of the 

 Snow-Goose, both of which breed in the New World. The 

 larger bird nests in Eastern North America, i.e., in the 

 Hudson Bay district. The Lesser Snow-Goose nests in 

 Western North America, Alaska, and North-East Asia. In 

 winter both forms migrate along the American coasts. The 

 smaller bird is the variety which has been recorded from 

 the Continents of Europe and Asia. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Pure white, except 

 the primaries, which are black. The forehead sometimes 

 exhibits a rusty tinge. 



Adult female nuptial. Similar in plumage to the male. 



Adult winter, male and female. Similar to the nuptial 

 plumage. 



Immature, male and female. The greater portion of the 

 plumage is shaded grey. 



BEAK. Bed, with a greyish-white tip. 



FEET. Bed. 



IRIDES. Dark brown. 



