68 ANATID^ 



Food. Observations made of birds in captivity show 

 that green vegetables form the chief diet, and water is 

 frequently drunk. 



Voice. The note has been syllabled skak-voy (Pallas). 



Flight. The flight is strong and sustained. 



Nest Mr. Popham describes the nest as being placed at 

 the foot of cliffs and well supplied with down. The eggs, 

 are creamy-white in colour. 



Geographical distribution. The Red-breasted Goose 

 breeds in Arctic regions of Europe and Asia, notably in 

 Siberia. The late Mr. Seebohm and Mr. Popham found it 

 nesting on the Yenesei : on migration in winter it visits 

 the European Continent, especially the Eastern section, as 

 also Asia. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Top of head, throat, 

 and back of neck, black, thinly bordered with white ; large 

 white patch in front of the eye ; breast and fore-neck, rich 

 chestnut-red ; a patch of the same colour surrounded by 

 a white margin covering the ear ; back, wings, and tail, 

 nearly black, some of the wing-coverts being edged with 

 white ; abdomen white, barred on the flanks with black. 



Adult female nuptial. Similar in plumage to the male. 



Adult winter, male and female. Similar to the nuptial 

 plumage. 



Immature, male and female. Ear-patch less distinct 

 than in the adult, being whitish with a chestnut centre ; 

 breast, pale reddish ; rest of plumage, brownish, except 

 the abdomen and tail-coverts, which resemble those of the 

 adult. 



BEAK. Very dark brown. 



FEET. Very dark brown. 



IEIDES. Hazel. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH 22 in. 



WING ... 14'5 



BEAK ... ... 1 

 TAUSO-METATARSUS ... ... 2 ,, 

 EGG 279x1-93. 



