444 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



Cassin, wlio described this sjiecies iu 1850, regarded it as being very rare, but not 

 unknown on the Atlantic coast. He had seen but tive specimens, one of which was 

 from Oregon ; and the other four — whicli occurred in pairs — were found in tlie 

 market in Phihxdelijliia, and are now in the collection of the Academy of that city. 

 Two were adults, and two were in immature plumage. 



Two examples of the smaller form were obtained in Ireland iu November, 1871. 

 Mr. Howard Saunders chronicled their occurrence at a meeting of the Zoological 

 Society in 1872. He states that on the 9th of November his attention was attracted 

 to two Geese hanging up in Leadenhall Market, Loudon. By diligent inquiry he sub- 

 sequently ascertained that they had been shot near "Wexford, on the lake of Tacum- 

 shiu, on the south coast, by a boy. They were the only ones that had appeared 

 there ; but there was a third one subsequently shot in Wexford Harbor. They had 

 been swimming about on the lake for some days before they were shot. The lake 

 adjoins the sea, from which it is separated hj only a narrow ridge of sand ; and it 

 probably would be one of the first places birds would make if coming from the sea. 



Under the name of Anser hyperboreiis, Mr. Peale writes that it is impossible to 

 convey any idea of the incessant clatter of sounds emitted by this and the White- 

 fronted Goose when disturbed at night by some prowling wolf, as thej* all roost on 

 the ground in wet prairies. The old Geese of this species generally keep together ; 

 and their white plumage, contrasted with the dark ground, presents the appearance 

 of snow-banks. Karely seen in the water, they remain all winter in California and 

 the southern parts of Oregon. When they first arrive from the north they are very 

 tame, allowing persons to approach very near, and a skilful rider on a horse is en- 

 abled to catch them with a lasso. Mr. Peale saw four that had been taken in this 

 way in one afternoon. 



Two examples of this Goose were obtained at Fort Kesolution on the 26th of 

 May by Mr. Kennicott. 



The egi^ of the Snow Goose is quite large as compared with the size of the bird, is 

 oval in shape, the two ends being of unequal size, and the color is a uniform dirty 

 chalky white. They average 3.40 by 2.20 inches. 



Chen Rossi. 

 BOSS'S SNOW GOOSE. 



Aiiscr Rossi, Baikd, M.S. Cams. Pr. Phihul. Acad. ]861, 73. — CouEs, Key, 1872, 282; Check List, 



1873, no. 4S1 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 553. 

 Exantkcmops Rossi, Elliot, Illustr. Am. B. IV. 1869, \A. 44. 

 Chen Rossi, PlIDgw. Pr. V. S. Nat. Mus. ISSO, 203 ; Nom. N. Aui. I?. 1881, no. 592. — CouEs, Check 



List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 697. 



Hab. Arctic America in summer, Pacific coast to Southern California in winter. 



Sp. Char. Adult : Colors exactly as in A. hyperboreus. Erttirely snowy white, the primaries 

 black, fading into hoary ash basally. Bill and feet dull reddish, the nails of the foi-mer white. 

 Tomia of the bill closely apiiro.ximated, the intervening space scarcely exposed. Latero-basal out- 

 line of the bill straight ; base of the bill frequently warted or corrugated. Yowkj : White, tinged 

 with grayish, the centres of the feathers of upper parts deeper grayish ; bill and feet dusky. 



Wing. 13.7.5-1.5.50 inches ; culmen, 1..5()-1.70 ; depth of maxilla at base, .8.5-,95 ; width, .70-.80 ; 

 tarsus, 2.30-3.00 ; middle toe, 1.80-2.0.5 ; tail-feathers, 16.00. 



In adults obtained at the same season (winter or summer) there is great variation in the rough- 

 ness of the base of the maxilla ; in many (perhaps a majority of specimens) the base is simply 



