438 ANSER ALB1FRONS. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 29-50; stretch, 58-50: wing, 15-55; _tail, 5'65; bill, 

 2-05; tarsus, 2-95. Longest specimen, 31-00; greatest extent of wing, 62'00; longest wing, 17-00: tail. 5-80; bill, 2- 10; tarsus, 

 3 12. Shortest specimen, 26-00; smallest extent of wing, 55'00; shortest wing, 14'00; tail, 5-50; bill, ^ 00; tiirsus, 2-80. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eyys, from five to eight in numlicr, el- 

 liptical in form, yellowish-white in color. Dimensions from 1-90x2-80 to 2'00 x 8-00. 



HABITS. 



The Snow Goose is exceedingly rare in the section east of the Mississippi, south of 

 Canada, and I have never seen a specimen living. It is, however, abundant in the West 

 during winter, when it is described as having similar habits to those of other Geese. It 

 breeds in the far North. 



ANSER ALBIFRONS. 



White-fronted Goose. 



Anser albifrons BECIIST., Naturg. IV, 898. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn Size, large. Form, robust. COLOR. Adult. Above and on sides, bluish-gray, becoming brownish on head 

 ami neck. Forehead, upper tail coverts, and ander portions, excepting neck, white, becoming grayish anteriorly, where it 

 is irregularly blotched with black. Wings ashy-gray, becoming dark-brown on secondaries and tips of primaries: the great- 

 er coverts, tipped vrith white. Tail feathers, brown, also tipped with white. Axiilaries and under surface of wings, plum- 

 beous. Iris, brown: bill and feet, red. Youny. Similar but paler, and less spotted beneath. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the white forehead and spotted breast. Distributed, in summer, throughout Arctic America, wintering 

 in the West. Rare in New England during the migrations. 



DIMENSIONS, 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 29'00; stretch, 59'00; wing, 16'20; tail, 5'35; hill, 

 1-95; tarsus, 2'65. Longest specimen, 29'75; greatest extent of wing, 59'85; longest wing, 16-45; tart, 5'55; bill, 2 05; tar- 

 sus, 2'85. Shortest specimen, 28-00; smallest extent of wing, 58'25; shortest wing, 15'95; tail, 5' 15; bill, 1 '85; tarsus, 2'40. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of weeds, grass, etc. Eygs, six to ten in number, elliptical 

 in form, yellowish-white in color. Dimensions from 2'05x2'95 to 2'10x3'20. 



HABITS. 



Like the Snow Goose, the White-front is seldom seen in New England or southward 

 but is very abundant in the West, where numbers are shot every season, and from which 

 point they are sent into our markets during cold weather. Like nearly all members of the 

 present order, these birds are also migratory, breeding in the far North. Both this and 

 the preceding species are occasionally taken by gunners on the coast of North Carolina. 



GENUS III. BERNICLA. SHORT-BILLED GEESE. 



GEN. Cn, Bill, nut quite as lony as head 'and black in color. Hind toe, quite sturt. Marginal indentations, very wide 

 and open. 



Members of this genus are very dark in color, witli few or no conspicuous marks of white. Traoiiea, straight, without 

 dilatation. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 



BERNICLA CANADENSIS. 



Canada Goose. 

 Bernicla Canadensis BOIE., Isis: 1826, 921. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. On. Form, robust. Size, large. Tail feathers, from fourteen to twenty. COLOR, Adult. General color, smoky- 

 brown becoming paler be&eath, with edges of feathers becoming lighter. Head, neck, rump, tips of primaries, and tail, 



