WHITE-PEONTED GOOSE. 517 



Size and color of the last species, except a jellow spot on bill near base. Bill not 

 longer than the head ; nostrils median. Tail (normal)y) of twenty feathers. 



Habitat, Continent of North America ; breeding only in the far North ; wintering in 

 the United States. Accidental in Scotland. 



Not common, spring and fall migrant, perhaps also winter resident. 

 More numerous on Lake Erie than elsewhere, though occurring generally 

 thoughout the State. Mr. Langdon gives it as a rare migrant. In 

 March, 1877, 1 saw several specimens from Western Ohio, and the Scioto 

 and Muskingum River. Most of these were in full plumage, a few with 

 reddish-brown on head and neck. Young birds of this species sometimes 

 want the yellow spot at the base of the bill. 



Sir John Richardson, quoted by Dr. Coues, says : 



" Common all along the Yukon. Arrives with the Geese about May 1, but in a con- 

 trary direction, coming down instead of up the Yokon. Breeds in the great marshes 

 near the Yukon mouth. The eggs, two in number, vary from pure white to fulvons, as 

 do the parents on the head and neck, apparently without regard to age. The eggs are 

 usually in a tussock quite surrounded with water, so that the female must sometimes 

 set with her feet in the water. They are usually laid about May 21 at Nnlato, but later 

 at the Yukon mouth. In July the Swans moult and cannot fly, and the Indians have 

 great sport spearing them with bone tridents. They are very shy birds, and usually 

 shot on the wing or with a bullet. This species, if hung long enough, is tender, well- 

 flavored, and excellent eating." 



Svb-family ANSBRiNiE. Geese. 



Head completely feathered, tarsi reticulate; neck shorter than in Swans, and legs 

 longer than in Ducks. Bill rather short, high, compressed, tapering. Sexes alike. Size 



large. 



GBNtrs ANSEE. Linnaeus. 



Bill as long as the head, the laminee prominent. Hind toe long, its tip reaching to the 

 ground. Bill and feet bright colored. 



Anser albifbons Gm. 

 var. GAMBELi (Hartl.) Cs. 



J^-zuericaxL "White-fronted GS-oose. 



Anser alUfrons, Kirtlaud, Ohio Qeolog. Surv., 1838, 166, 186. 



Anser gamielii, Whbaton, Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1860, 369, 378 ; Reprint, 1861, 11, 20. 



Anser albifroni, var. gamheU, Whbaton, Pood of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Eep. for 1874, 



574 ; Reprint, 1875, 14. — Langdon, Cat. Birds at Cin., 1877, 16 ; Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. 



Hist., i, 1878, 117 ; Reprint, 8 ; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soo. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 



185 ; Reprint, 19. 

 White-fronted Goose, Kdstland, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 72. 



Anas alUfrons, Gmblin, Syst., Nat., i, 1788, 509. 

 Anser alUfrons, Bbchstbin, Naturg., iv., 898. 

 Anser gambeU, Haktlaub, R. M. Z,, 1853, 7. 

 Anser alUfrons, var, gambeU, Cocks, Key, 1872, 282. 



