LITTLE WEITE-FBONTEI) GOOSE. 109 



easily distinguished by its smaller size and more delicate form; the 

 wings are also proportionately larger and more pointed. Their manners 

 and habits of flight are very similar to those of Geese in general. In 

 their long migrations they form an oblique line, one after the other; 

 and M. Dubois states that they will sometimes follow flocks of Harvest 

 Geese, at the same time keeping at a distance from them. If these 

 last fly down on a field or piece of water, they also stop, but 

 they do not then approach nearer their companions of the voyage 

 than while travelling. They are very fond of swimming about, 

 which they do with great agility. They feed upon roots, grain, 

 and water lentils. They are not very wild, but at the same time 

 cautious, and keep at a long range from the sportsman's gun. 



I am sorry Mr. Wolley has not given iis more particulars of 

 their breeding habits in Lapland. The eggs are scarce in collections, 

 and smaller than those of A. alhifrons. That figured is from my 

 own collection: it was sent me by the late Mr. Wheelwright. 



The adult male and female have the top of the head, forehead, 

 throat, and front of cheeks, and the under and upper tail coverts, 

 pure white; rest of the head, neck, and crop, grey, with those parts 

 nearest the white front of the head darker; scapularies and back dark 

 brown grey, with transverse lighter bands; upper wing coverts blue 

 grey; lower same colour as the back, edged with white; primaries 

 same blue grey as the upper coverts; secondaries black; tail grey, 

 margined with white at the tip, and white at the base; abdomen black, 

 bordered with white; and the flanks the same dark grey brown as 

 the back, each feather edged with lighter, and separated from the 

 edge of the wing, when folded, by a white streak; beak orange; feet 

 and legs red. 



In the young bird the white of the forehead is replaced by hair 

 brown; and all the under parts are brown, the white and black 

 plumage being entirely absent. 



It has been figured by Naumann, pi. 291, and a very good drawing 

 of the old and young bird is given in Dubois' Birds of Belgium, 

 part 139, pi. 294. 



