White-fronted Goose 45 



individuals, as is the case in the majority of the other species of geese, is, however, on the 

 whole (though not invariably) more robust. However, I consider there is not sufficient 

 ground to establish a separate race on the basis of such an unstable character ; and I there- 

 fore regard all these geese from the Far East, such as Anser albifrons gambeli, as ordinary 

 white-fronted geese — Anser albifrons. 



The normal colouring of the bill in both sexes is a very pale whitish flesh-tint (varying 

 of course in depth), locally with a slight wash of blue and with yellow (orange) edges to the 

 nares, and with a median longitudinal streak on culmen (between nares), and the basal part 

 of rami of lower mandible of same colour. Nail white (rarely greyish white) ; the older 

 the bird, the purer being the white. Feet orange, with paler yellow membranes and whitish 

 claws ; but sometimes a pink colour appears on the feet, as noticed by Naumann. This 

 pink or red colour of the feet explains the statement of such a constantly accurate observer 

 as Pallas that Anser erythropus (under which name he evidently confused this goose with 

 the lesser white-fronted goose) has " pedes rubri," i.e. red feet. 1 



Iris in this species dark hazel or dark chestnut. Ceroma greyish, sometimes with 

 yellowish shade, or brownish grey, but never either lemon-yellow or orange, whereby the 

 white-fronted goose at all ages is sharply distinguished from the lesser white-fronted goose, 

 as described below. Dr. Sushkin informs me that in a specimen from the Turgai Territory, 

 which he considers to be a very old female, the edge of the eyelid was slightly yellowish and 

 perhaps hardly perceptibly swollen. In this specimen the orange tinge on the bill also was 

 more pronounced than usual. 



Adult (but not old) Birds 



Birds approximately from 3 to 4 years old have only the mental angle white. 2 Yellow 

 spots on bill 3 hardly indicated. Sometimes these spots are blackish (dark slaty grey), and 

 it would seem that such specimens are occasionally quoted by authors as Anser inter- 

 medins, Naumann ; for example, among others, by Mr. N. N. Somov, from the Kharkov 

 Government. 



Young Birds in Second Year 



These have the white on head far less developed in breadth, and the bill darkish grey, 

 with pink or fleshy shade and dingy greyish or greyish white nail. Black patches on 

 abdomen almost entirely wanting, or extremely small and few. 



Young Birds in First Plumage 



White feathering on head entirely absent and, both on top of forehead and along base 

 of upper mandible, replaced by black or brown-black. Bill yellow-grey or grey flesh-colour, 

 or grey with lilac tinge, and greyish nail. Feathers of under-part of body much narrower 

 (fully one-third) than in adults, and on upper surface feathers narrower and sharper than 

 in adults, as is apparently the case in all young geese of this age. On light-grey belly 

 (where black patches are always wanting) fairly regularly disposed grey speckles, resulting 

 from the fact that the feathers have grey centres. 



1 It must also be remembered that white-fronted geese kept and bred in confinement often have pink feet {Anser pallipes, Selys de 

 Longchamps). 



2 I have already said above in describing the male that sometimes the white is quite absent from the chin. 



3 i.e. around the nares, on the culmen, and at the base of the branches of the lower mandible. 



