BIRDS. 83 



These birds seek a nesting grouud along tbe course of the Lower Anderson Eiver and the 

 neighboring region along the Arctic cost. 



Anser ALBiFKUNS GAMBELi (Hart!.). American White-fronted Goose (Esk. 

 Mk-hhU). 



In early seasons the first White-fionted Goose reaches the Yukon mouth and the vicinity of 

 Saint Michaels by April 27, as in 1877, but the usual time is from the 5th to the Sth of May. 

 From about the 10th of May they are very common, and remain to breed in considerable numbers 

 all along the Alaskan shore of Bering Sea and ou the Arctic coast of Point Barrow, where they 

 are plentiful, arriving the last half of May. It was taken ou the Commander Islands by Stejneger. 

 During the summer of ISSl a number were found feeding upon Saint Lawrence Island, and they 

 also nest ou the Siberian shore in the vicinity of Bering Straits. During the migrations they occur 

 at various points along the Aleutian chain, but are not known to breed there. Dall found their 

 eggs all along the Yukon, from Fort Yukon to the sea, and it is well known as a widelysiiread 

 species, breeding all around the Arctic mainland i)ortions of America. 



Over the northern ])art of most of the Old World is found a closely-related race of this bird 

 distinguished by a slightly smaller bill and darker colors. When the White froutetl Goose tirst 

 arrives in the north the lakes are but just beginning to open and the ground is still largely covered 

 with snow. The last year's heath berries afford them sustenance, in common with most of the 

 other wild fowl at this season. As the season advances they become more nuaierous and noisy. 

 Their loud call-notes and the cries of the males are heard everywhere. 



The mating season is quickly ended, however, and ou May 27, 1879, I found their eggs at the 

 Yukon mouth. From this date on, until the middle of June, fresh eggs may be found, but very 

 soon after this latter date the downy young begin to appear. These geese choose for a nesting 

 site the grassy border of a small lakelet, a kuoll grown over with moss and grass, or even a flat, 

 sparingly covered with grass. Along the Yukon Dall found them breeding gregariously, deposit- 

 ing their eggs in a hollow scooped out in the sand. At the Yukon mouth and Saint Michaels 

 they were found breeding in scattered pairs over the flat country. Every one of the nests ex- 

 amined by me in these places had a slight lining of grass or moss, gathered by the parent, and 

 upon this the tirst egg was laid ; as the complement of eggs is approached the female alwajs 

 plucks down and feathers from her breast until the eggs rest in a soft warm bed, when iucubation 

 commences. The eggs vary considerably in shape and size. Some are decidedly elongated ; 

 others are as decidedly oval. In color they are of a dull white, but ordiuarily present a dirty 

 brown apiiearance from being stained iu the nest. 



The following measurements show about the extent of the variations iu size. The eggs 

 measured are from a very large series taken in the vicinity of Saint Michaels: ^laximum, 3.45 by 

 2.28 ; minimum, 2.08 by 2.10. Within these limits there are innumerable gradations. 



The young are pretty little objects, and are guarded with the greatest care by the parents, 

 the male and female joining in conducting their young from place to place and in defending theui 

 from danger. 



Tlie last of June, in 1877, I made an excursion to Stewart Island, near Saint Michaels, and 

 while crossing ii flat came across a pair of these geese lying prone upon tiie grouud in a grassy 

 spot, with necks stretched out in front and their young crouching prettily all about them. Very 

 frequently during my \ isits to the haunts of these birds the parents were seen leading their young 

 away through the glass, all crouching and trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible. 



At Kotzebue Sound, during the Corwin's visit, in July, 1881, old and young were very com- 

 mon on the (creeks and flats at the head of Escholtz Bay. 



The downy young has the middle of the crown and entire back, including the upper surface 

 of the wings and outer side of thighs, sooty-brown with au olive shade. From the bill a baud 

 extending back through the eye is of a slightly darker shade than surrcmnding feathers. Xape 

 and back of neck olive yellow. Entire lower surface rich leinon-yellow washed with lighter on the 

 abdomen. A full grown young of the year, taken the 1st of September, is much like the adult, 

 except in lacking the white at the base of the bill and the dark mottling on the breast. About 



