ANATID^— THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 117 



some specimens (as No. 10,463, Frontera, Texas), there are 

 only two or three small spots, while in others (as No. 16,788, 

 Hudson's Bay Territory) the black predominates over the lower 

 parts, being continuous on the abdomen, and only broken on 

 the breast by the admixture of a few pale grayish feathers. In 

 No. 4,517, Washington, D. C, the whitish gray of the lower 

 parts is strongly tinged with ochraceous-rufous— without doubt 

 merely an adventitious stain from ferruginous matter. There is 

 also a slight range of variation in the shade of the brownish tints 

 of the body, some specimens inclining to ashy and others ap- 

 proaching a decided brownish hue. The smallest specimen (see 

 measurements above) is No. 10,463, Frontera, Texas; the larg- 

 est is No. 16,788, Washington, D. C. In No. 20,138, Fort Reso- 

 lution, the white of the forehead is more extended than in any 

 others, reaching as far as the middle of the eye, and sending 

 back a stripe over the eye to its posterior angle, and another 

 on each side the throat. 



The variations of plumage in this specie^ are thus discussed 

 by Mr. E. W. Nelson, in the "Bulletin of the Essex Institute," 

 Vol. VIII. (1876), pp. 136, 137: 



"The individual variation in this species is very great. A large 

 majority have the ordinary white frontal band and the under 

 parts plentifully mottled with black. In others the black grad- 

 ually decreases, until some specimens do not show the least 

 trace of dark on the abdomen; in such instances the frontal 

 white band is usually present. The young exhibited a dark 

 brown frontal band in place of white, but with more or less 

 dark spots on the abdomen. In very high plumage the abdomen 

 becomes almost entirely black, only a few rusty-colored feathers 

 being interspersed through the black. The white nail on the 

 bUl is generally crossed by one or more longitudinal stripes of 

 dark horn-color. In spring, as the breeding season approaches, 

 the bill becomes a clear waxy yellow. There is also much varia- 

 tion in size among adults of this species. I have examined a 

 number of specimens, which by correct comparison were at least 

 one fov/rth smaller than the average." 



The White-fronted Goose is another species which visits Illi- 

 nois only during its migrations, coming some time in October 

 or early in November, and returning in March or April. 



