400 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 
those of Denmark and Western Europe as far as the Mediterranean. 
It goes rather far north to breed ; for Mr. Pearson found it on both 
islands of Novaya Zemlya, and Mr. Popham informs me that it is 
plentiful on the Lower Yenesei. Middendorff describes it as the 
commonest Goose in the Taimyr district, whence, in the cold season, 
it migrates as far south as Shanghai and Northern India. Westward, 
its lines of migration seem to be down the Volga and other great 
river-valleys to Syria, Egypt and Nubia. This species was domesti- 
cated by the ancient Egyptians, as shown by paintings on a slab 
from Maydoom, as well as on others in the temple of Amada in 
Nubia, and in the British Museum. 
The bird which breeds in the northern districts of Scandinavia 
and on the fjelds, is characterized by smaller size, somewhat darker 
plumage, and a short bill straight ridged from the tip to the forehead, 
on which the white extends beyond the line of the eye. By those 
who admit its claim to specific rank this is known as the LESSER 
WHITE-FRONTED Goose, Anser erythropus of Linnzeus, and a young 
male of this was shot by the late Mr. A. C. Chapman at Holy 
Island in Northumberland, on Sept. 16th 1886. The late Mr. 
Seebohm obtained this form—as I consider it—on the Yenesei, and 
the area which it visits on migration appears to be nearly identical 
with the range of the larger and more numerous bird. The White- 
fronted Goose which is found in Greenland and in America up to 
72°N. lat. (4. gambeli), is a very large bird, with a great deal more 
black on the breast, abdomen, and flanks, and much darker under 
wing-coverts ; it occurs as far west as Alaska, and visits the northern 
Asiatic coast. . 
The nidification of the White-fronted Goose is like that of its 
congeners; the 5-7 creamy-white eggs measure 3 in. by 2 in. For 
its feeding-grounds this species appears to prefer fields of grass and 
clover to stubbles. It breeds in captivity, and has been known to 
produce a brood by union with a Bernacle Goose. 
The adult male has a white frontal band ; upper plumage brownish- 
ash ; breast and belly brownish-white, broadly barred with black ; bill 
orange-yellow, with a zwAzte nail at the tip; legs, toes and webs 
orange. Length 27 in. ; wing 16 in. Good weight, 64 lbs. The 
female is rather smaller and has less black on the breast. The 
young are darker and more uniform in colour, and the feathers at 
the base of the upper mandible do not show any white till January ; 
while there are no black markings on the breast in females; and 
the bill-nail is light brown. 
