m 



478 



LAMELLIHOSTRAL SWnnfERS — AXSEREfl. 



liir to the ailiilt, Imt tlic luail and uwk jiIuiuIk-kuh, the forniur RjicrkliMl with white, especially on 

 top ; the transverse luirrin},' of tiie ifuthers Icnh distima tlian in tlic adult. Hill and feet dusky. 



Wint;, 14.30- 1.'). 7(1 imdies ; cnliuen, 1.4(»-l.(ii') ; tarsus, 2.(i(i-2.8.') ; middle toe, 2.40-2.50. 



In a very lni>,'e series of fine adult specimens before us there is little appreciable variation in 

 colors, except in re<,'ard to the nranye-rulous stain on the head, which is entirely wanting in some, 

 but in others very deep, and covering nearly the whole head. 



'■U 



This species wiis introduced as a probable bird of Xorth America by T'rofessor 

 Baird, in the niiitii vohune of the "Pacific Railroad IJcport.s." It had been said to 



be coiunioii among the Aleutian Islands; 

 but according to the observations of ^Ir. 

 Dall, it was not seen in any of the regions 

 visited by him. lie was at .some pains to 

 make inc^uiries in regard to it, and tlus ex- 

 istence of such a bird appeared to bo un- 

 known to the natives of the islands visited 

 by him. It has been found, however, by 

 j\Ir. Bannister on the Lsland of St. ^li- 

 chael's and on the Lower Yukon, and about 

 its mouth by Mr. Vease and others. ^Ir. 

 Dall speaks of it as a magnificent bird, and 

 states that it abounds in profusion in the 

 Kusilvak Slough, or moiith of the Yukon 

 River, to the exclusion of all other species. 

 His endeiivors to reach that point being 

 unavailing, he was obliged to obtain speci- 

 mens elsewhere. It Avas quite scarce about 

 the Kwichpak Slough and on the sea-coast. 

 By means of a large reward, Mr. Dall ob- 

 tained four fine specimens from the marshes around Kutlik. This is the largest 

 of the Geese of that region ; and the delicate colors of the body, with the head and 

 nape snow-white, tipped with rich amber-yellow, have a very beautiful effect. Its 

 ej-e is dark brown, and the feet are flesh-color. The eggs are said to be larger and 

 longer than those of Anser Gamhel'i, and rather brown fulvous, the color being in 

 minute dots. This bird rests on the ground in the manner of the other Geese. The 

 Eskimo name of this Goose is Machowfhiluk. The raw flesh and skin, Mr. Dall states, 

 have an intolerable odrr of garlic, which renders skinning it a very disagreeable task ; 

 but on cooking this passes away, and he found the flesh tender and good eating. 



This species arrives at Alaska about the first of June, or earlier, according to the 

 season. As soon as the eggs are hatched the old birds begin to moult. Jlr. Dall saw 

 half-moulted individuals at Pastolik, July 29, 1867. This Goose remains longer than 

 any other, lingering until the whole sea-coast is fringed with ice, feeding on Mytilus 

 edilis and other shellfish. It has been observed as late as November 1 by the Rus- 

 sians. It usually goes in pairs, or four or five together, rather than in large flocks. 

 Its note is shriller and clearer than that of A, Gomheli or of B, Hutchinsi, and it is 

 shyer than any of the Geese, except the Black Brant. 



Mr. Bannister states that two of this species were shot at St. IMichael's during the 

 period of his stay there, both of them young, and not in the best of plumage. This 

 bird cannot be regarded as common at that ^yarticular point ; but Mr. Pease reported 

 having seen it in June in large numbers on the Lower Yukon while descending that 



