ADDITIONS SINCE 1899. 25 



large series of this goose, does not, however, admit the 

 vahdity of this bird even as a geographical form (c/. Geese 

 of Europe and Asia, p. 29), and Mr. Coburn's arguments seem 

 to be set aside by the proofs of great variability in size and 

 colouring brought forward by M. Alpheraky. 



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser alUfrons (Scop.). 

 S. page 399. 



There has been a great deal of discussion during the last 

 few years as to the validity of Anser gamheli of Hartlaub, 

 the American representative of the White-fronted Goose 

 (c/. J. H. Gurney, Ibis, 1902, p. 269 et seq. ; F. Coburn, 

 Zool, 1902, p. 337 ; H. W. Robinson, t.c, 1903, p. 268 ; J. 

 A. Harvie-Brown, t.c, p. 315, and S. Alpheraky, Geese of 

 Europe, etc., p. 45, etc.). Mr. Coburn thinks, with some 

 former authors, that the bird is distinct, and that specimens 

 which he says he received from Ireland belong to it ; M. 

 Alpheraky, on the other hand, unites the bird with A. alhifrons. 

 It must be pointed out that specific characters founded on 

 specimens obtained outside the breeding area of the bird 

 are really of little value. The White-fronted Goose is 

 without question a variable species, and whether it can be 

 separated into geographical races or not, can only be 

 determined by a careful comparison of a large series of 

 specimens obtained within one breeding area, with a corre- 

 sponding series obtained in another breeding area. 



LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus (L.). 

 S. page 400 (also cf. B.B., Vol. I., p. 14). 



Norfolk. — An a;dult female was shot near King's Lynn 

 on Januarv 24th, 1900, and sent to Mr. F. Coburn {cf. F. 

 Coburn, Zool, 1901, p. 317 ; Bull. B.O.C., XII., p. 15; 

 J. H. Gurney, Ibis, 1902, p. 269, etc.). 



YoRKS. — A male in the collection of the late Sir H. 

 Boynton was said to have been taken near York (T. H. 

 Nelson, B. of Yorks., p. 413). 



BEAN-GOOSE Anser segetum (J. F.Gm.). S. page 401. 



Outer Hebrides. — One was shot and two others were seen 

 in South Uist in March, 1903 (J. A. Harvie-Brown, Ann. 

 Scot. Nat. Hist., 1903, p. 119). The " Manual " says that its 

 reported occurrence in the Outer Hebrides requires con- 

 firmation. 



M, Alpheraky's separation {op. cit.) of the Anser arvensis 

 of Brehm from the A. segetum of Gmelin is supported by a 

 considerable amount of evidence. The chief characters 

 lie in the bill, that of A. arvensis being " longer and com- 



