564 SNOW GOOSE. 
but, at the commencement of next spring, the Goose was a Snow 
Goose, and the change had taken place in less than a month. 
Dr Ricuarvson informs us that this species ‘ breeds in the bar- 
ren grounds of Arctic America, in great numbers. The eggs, of a 
yellowish-white colour, and regularly ovate form, are a little larger 
than those of the Eider Duck, their length being three inches, and 
their greatest breadth two. The young fly in August, and by the 
middle of September all have departed to the southward. ‘The Snow 
Goose feeds on rushes, insects, and in autumn on berries, particularly 
those of the Empetrum nigrum. When well fed it is a very excellent 
bird, far superior to the Canada Goose in juiciness and flavour. It is 
said that the young do not attain the full plumage before their fourth 
year, and until that period they appear to keep in separate flocks. They 
are numerous at Albany Fort in the southern part of Hudson’s Bay, 
where the old birds are rarely seen; and, on the other hand, the old 
birds in their migrations visit York Factory in great abundance, but 
are seldom accompanied by the young. The Snow Geese make their 
appearance in spring a few days later than the Canada Geese, and pass 
in large flocks both through the interior and on the coast.” 
The young birds of this species begin to acquire their whiteness 
about the head and neck after the first year, but the upper parts re- 
main of a dark bluish colour until the bird suddenly becomes white all 
over ; at least, this is the case with such as are kept in captivity. Al- 
though it is allied to the White-fronted or Laughing Goose, Anser al- 
bifrons, 1 was surprised to find that Wizson had confounded the two 
species together, and been of opinion that the Bean Goose also was the 
same bird in an imperfect state of plumage. That excellent ornitho- 
logist tells us that “ this species, cailed on the sea-coast, the Red Goose, 
arrives in the river Delaware, from the north, early in November, 
sometimes in considerable flocks, and is extremely noisy, their notes 
being shriller and more squeaking than those of the Canada, or com- 
mon Wild Goose. On their first arrival, they make but a short stay, 
proceeding, as the depth of winter approaches, farther south ; but from 
the middle of February, until the breaking up of the ice in March, 
they are frequently numerous along both shores of the Delaware, about 
and below Reedy Island, particularly near Old Duck Creek, in the 
State of Delaware. They feed on roots of the reeds there, which they 
tear up like hogs.” 
ed 
= 
I i a! 
A | ee 
