Emperor-Goose 2 3 



I am therefore rather inclined to believe that, from time to time, this goose strays to 

 the Volga, as I do not consider such a range at all more improbable than the annual winter 

 visit to the Caspian of the snow-goose. 



Regarding North America, it is known that the emperor-goose lives in abundance 

 along the lower reaches of the river Yukon and at its mouth, so that it is there the 

 predominating species. It breeds also on the island of St. Michael and in Norton Bay. 

 In winter it descends to Humboldt Bay in California. It migrates to Alaska about 

 June 1 or somewhat earlier, according to the weather. As soon as the young leave the 

 tgg, the old birds begin to moult. Dall saw a half-moulted specimen in Pastolik on 

 July 29, 1867. This goose lingers in Alaska longer than the others, until the shore is 

 ice-bound, feeding on molluscs, such as Mytilus edulis and others ; having been observed 

 there by Russians till November i. 



The emperor-goose more often keeps in pairs or parties of four or five than in large 

 flocks. Its note is purer and shriller than that of the white-fronted goose or Canadian 

 goose, and in general it is more wary than all other geese, except perhaps Branta nigricans. 

 According to Dall, its flesh and skin possess an insufferable smell of garlic, so that even 

 skinning it is a very unpleasant operation, but on roasting this unpleasant odour vanishes, 

 and the flesh becomes tender and tasty. Mr. Bannister, during his visit to the island of St. 

 Michael, states that two young specimens were killed. He mentions the bad odour of the 

 flesh, and says that in removing the skin this smell remains on the hands, so that it is 

 almost impossible to wash it off. He considers the flesh of this goose uneatable by 

 Europeans, but says that Indians and Eskimos eat it readily. This condemnation by 

 Mr. Bannister is, however, refuted by Mr. Elliot, according to whom, on the Pribylov 

 Islands, this species occurs only as a stray visitor, 1 and appears sometimes in such an 

 exhausted condition that the natives take it in whole flocks, the members of which they 

 pursue openly over the grass. Mr. Elliot found their flesh without unpleasant smell, and 

 very good eating. According to this author the unpleasant odour is limited to the skin, 

 and when the bird is properly charred entirely disappears. 



The eggs of this goose, according to Mr. Adams {Ibis, 1878), have a dingy colour 

 (according to other statements, sub-rufous), which, according to the investigations of Mr. G. F. 

 Gobel, should indicate considerable porosity of the shell. The eggs have a breadth of 

 73.6-78.7 mm. ( = 2.9-3.1 in.) and a length of 84.5-86.3 mm. ( = 3.33-340 in.). 



This exhausts the scanty information with regard to this goose at present available. 



1 During migration. 



