THE LESSER SNOW GOOSE IN IRELAND. 421 
high reeds, and lined with a coil of wire-netting, which was well 
concealed. In this enclosed space the wounded bird was placed. 
I had a passage cut from the enclosure through the reeds, narrow 
at the end near the decoy-bird and very wide at the outside of the 
clump of reeds. At the narrowest part of the passage I had four 
rabbit-traps placed. Within two hours the bird returned and was 
caught. The wounded bird appeared to be a little smaller of the 
two, but in other respects I could see no difference. I did not 
save the skin, as it was much damaged before the bird died.” 
Such are the particulars which have come to hand concerning 
this very interesting capture. It remains only to decide to which 
of the species of Snow Geese the birds in question belong, the 
plumage of all being very similar. 
Anser hyperboreus, Cassin, the largest of the three,—and the 
measurements of which are—wing, seventeen to eighteen. inches 
and a half; tarsus, three to three inches and a quarter; and bill 
from forehead, two inches and a half,—is too large a bird to 
answer the description given of size. 
Anser Rossii, Baird,* is as much too small, being no larger than 
a Mallard. Hearne says, in his ‘Journal’ (p. 442), “ The flesh of 
this bird is delicate; but it is so small that I ate two one night for 
supper” ! 
Anser albatus, Cassin, intermediate in size between these two, 
measures—wing, fifteen inches to fifteen and three-quarters; tarsus, 
two inches and seven-eighths to three inches; and bill from fore- 
head, two inches to two inches and one-eighth. The birds shot 
in Wexford in November, 1871, were identified by Mr. Saunders 
with this species, and from the description given of those now 
under consideration it seems probable that they also are of the 
same species.t On this point, however, in the absence of measure- 
ments, one cannot speak with positive certainty. It is to be hoped 
that when the bird now in Mr. Crampton’s possession dies, the 
owner will take immediate steps to have the skin preserved. 
It is remarkable that the Snow Geese which visited the coast of 
Mayo in 1877 arrived about the same time as those which were 
met with in Wexford in 1871, namely, in October and November. 
* It seems that the name bestowed or suggested by Prof. Baird was not published 
by him, but was adopted from his MSS. by Cassin, Proc, Philad. Acad., 1861, p. 73. 
+ The distinction between Anser hyperboreus and A. albatus is chiefly one of size. 
Dr. Elliott Coues does not regard them as specifically different, but treats the latter 
as a smaller race of the former species. See his ‘ Birds of the North-West,’ p. 549. 
