228 The Water-fowl Family 



the family. The breeding-ground is in the re- 

 motest North ; the nest and eggs have not been 

 taken. The flesh is delicate and palatable. 

 The only specimen of the Ross's goose coming 

 under my observation was shot by Mr. Sheldon 

 in northern Mexico. It was one of a pair, and 

 was found along the edge of a shallow lake. It 

 is also known as the horned wavey, referring to 

 the excrescences about the bill. 



EUROPEAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 

 (Anser albifrons") 



Differs from the American subspecies in having a slightly shorter 

 bill (culmen, 1.60 to 1.75 inches), a shorter tarsus (2.25 to 2.80 

 inches), and usually paler lower parts. Specimens intermediate 

 in the coloring of lower parts have been taken in Great Britain 

 and Iceland, and intermediates in measurements in western 

 Greenland. 



Habitat — Breeds in the northern parts of the eastern hemisphere, 

 including Iceland, north to Nova Zembla and the Yenisei River 

 above 72° north, and passes south in winter to Egypt, India, 

 China, etc. Of doubtful record from southeastern Greenland. 



The habits of this bird are similar to those of 

 its American relative. 



AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 

 (Anser albifrons gambelt) 



Adult male and female — Forehead and base of bill, white ; re- 

 mainder of head and neck, brown ; back and wings, ashy ; feath- 

 ers tipped with brown on the upper parts ; the lower parts, of a 

 gray cast with black blotches. The variation among individuals 

 of this species is extensive, the lower parts, in some instances, 



