SNOW GOOSE. 315 



The same strata2;ems are used to shoot these Fowls as are 

 put into practice to kill the other variety, 



DESCRIPTION. 



"The Snow Goose is two feet eight inches in length, and five 

 feet in extent; the bill is three inches in length, remarkably 

 thick at the base, and rising high in the forehead, but becomes 

 small and compressed at the extremity, where each mandible is 

 furnished with a whitish rounding nail; the color of the bill is 

 a purplish-carmine ; the edges of the two mandibles separate 

 from each other, in a singular manner, for their whole length, 

 and this gibbosity is occupied by dented rows, resembling 

 teeth, these and the parts adjoining being of a blackish color; 

 the whole plumage is of a snowy whiteness, with the exception, 

 first, of the forepart of the head all round as for as the eyes, 

 which is of a yellowish-rust color intermixed with white; and, 

 second, the nine exterior quill-feathers, which are black, shafted 

 with white, and white at the root ; the coverts of these last, and 

 also the bastard wing, are sometimes of a pale ash color; the 

 legs and feet of the same purplish carmine as the bill ; iris dark 

 hazel ; the tail is rounded, and consists of sixteen feathers ; that, 

 and the wings, when shut, nearly of a length," 



Wilson remarks that "the bill of this Bird is singularly 

 curious ; the edges of the upper and lower gibbosities have 

 each twenty-three indentations or strong teeth on each side ; 

 the inside, or concavity of the upper mandible, has also seven 

 lateral rows of strong, projecting teeth; and the tongue, which 

 is horny at the extremity, is armed on each side with thirteen 

 long and sharp bony teeth, placed like those of a saw, with 

 their points directed backwards ; the tongue turned up, and, 

 viewed on its lower side, looks very much like a human finger 

 with its nail. This conformation of the mandibles, exposing 

 two rows of strong teeth, has probably given rise to the" epithet 

 'Laughing,' bestowed on one of its varieties, though it might 

 with as much propriety have been named the Grinning Goosed 



