THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



595 



next come the legs of the bird hanging out, and as it groweth greater it openeth the shel 

 by degrees, till at length it is all come forth and hangeth only by the bill ; in short space 

 after it commeth to full matnritie, and falleth into the sea, where it gathereth feathers, and 



groweth to a fowle, bigger than a mallard and less than a goose For the truth 



hereof, if any doubt, may it please them to repaire unto me. and 1 shall satistie them by the 

 testimonie of good witnesses." 



The Bernicle Goose generally assembles in large flocks and haunts large salt marshes near 

 the coast, and feeds on grasses and various algse. It is a very wary bird and not easily 

 approached. The eggs of this species are large aud white. The flesh is considered good. The 

 bill of the Bernicle Goose is black, with a reddish streak on each side. The cheeks and throat 

 are white, a black streak runs from the beak to the eye, the upper parts are boldly marked 

 with black and white, and the lower parts are white. It is rather a small bird, the total length 

 barely exceeding two feet- 

 There are many other species of Geese which visit even the far northern countries of 



EGYPTIAN GOOSE.— (JhiuaXopex legyptiaciis. 



Europe in more or less abundance, among which may. be mentioned the Egyptian Goose 

 (Ghenalopex cegyptiaca), the Brent Goose (Bernicla brenta), the Red-breasted Goose (Bernicla 

 ruftcollis), the Canada Goose (Bernicla canadensis), the Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachy- 

 rliynchus), remarkable for its pinky feet and short and narrow beak, the White-fronted Goose 

 (Anser erytJiropus), and the Chinese Goose (Anser cygnoides). 



The White-froxted Goose (Anser albifrons, variety ga.mbeli), inhabits the North 

 American continent generally, breeding far north ; wintering in the United States and Cuba. 



During the winter many thousands of this species are seen in California, and also along the 

 whole Pacific coast. They are called Speckled-bellies there, where they are associated usually 

 with the Snow and Hutchen's Goose, having the same general habits. Their flesh is equally 

 good with the other species. According to Richardson, it breeds far to the north, in woody 

 districts beyond the 67th parallel. Ball found it very common on the Yukon River, arriving 



