56 Geese of Europe and Asia 



a clutch is usually stated as from 5 to 7, but there is no doubt that the number is 

 sometimes greater. 



The table of dimensions and weights of eggs of the white-fronted goose given below 

 was compiled by Mr. Gobel on the basis of 24 specimens. 



Max. breadth 56.5 mm. ( = 2.22 in.), with length 88 mm. ( = 3.48 in.) and weight 1248 cgrm. (Siberia). 

 Min. breadth 49.5 mm. ( = 1.94 in.), with length 87.5 mm. ( = 3.44 in.) and weight 1 122 cgrm. (Boganida). 

 Max. length 88.5 mm. ( = 3.48 in.), with breadth 56.5 mm. ( = 2.22 in.) and weight 1248 cgrm. (Siberia). 



Min. length j6 mm. ( = 2.99 in.), with breadth 53.5 mm. ( = 2.10 in.) and weight 1062 cgrm. (Novaia Zemlia 



Chernaya Guba). 

 Max. weight 1248 cgrm., with breadth 56.5 mm. ( = 2.22 in.) and length 88.5 mm. (=3.48 in.). 

 Min. weight 996 cgrm., with breadth 54 mm. ( = 2.12 in.) and length 78.5 mm. ( = 3.09 in.). 



or 



24 eggs gave : mean breadth 53.9 mm. ( = 2.12 in.), max. breadth 56.5 mm. (= 2.22 in.), and min. breadth 49.5 mm. 



(=1.94 in.). 

 24 eggs gave: mean length 81 mm. ( = 3.19 in.), max. length 88.5 mm. (=3.48 in.), and min. length 76 mm. 



(=2.99 in.). 

 20 eggs gave: mean weight 1098 cgrm., max. weight 1248 cgrm., min. weight 996 cgrm. 



Of the breeding of this species in captivity there is no lack of information, and 

 probably it might locally, especially in the north, become a perfectly domestic bird, if any 

 one would undertake the task of breeding. 



These geese lay pretty frequently in confinement, and become so accustomed to the 

 locality, if the latter is perfectly suitable for them, as not to evince any desire to leave during 

 the autumn and spring migrations, even with the wings unclipt. 1 



Cases are known of crosses between the white-front and the bean (which ?), as also 

 between the former and the grey-lag, in confinement. 



The reader will find an account of one case of such supposed hybrid at the end of the 

 present section. 



In the Zoologist for 1902 (pp. 337-35 1 ), Mr. Coburn states that among white-fronted 

 geese killed in Great Britain besides Anser albifrons, Anser gambeli is undoubtedly met 

 with ; and, describing in detail the various plumages of both forms from English specimens, 

 and emphasising the importance of the larger bill of Anser gambeli, this author maintains 

 the specific distinctness of the latter. 



Although minutely discussing the plumage, and scrupulously indicating the dimensions 

 of the specimens, it seems to me that Mr. Coburn measured the length of the bill not along 

 the straight line from the feathering of the forehead to the end of the nail on the upper 

 mandible, but along the curve, which always gives somewhat greater dimensions. 



A careful study of the article in question has, however, failed to convince me that the 

 geese taken by the author for gambeli really belonged to that American variety of the white- 

 fronted goose. I am not in a position to categorically state that Mr. Coburn is mistaken in 

 his identification, as I have not seen his specimens, but the following considerations compel 

 me, on the basis of the author's own data, to doubt the truth of his deductions. 



First of all, Mr. Coburn says that these geese have much more black on the belly 

 than A. albifrons ; but I think that Russian and Siberian examples of albifrons may be seen 

 with just as black an abdomen. It must be remembered also that in this respect the whole 

 of this group of geese is subject to very considerable variation. We saw this in connection 



1 The Field for 1902 (Nos. 2584, 2585) contained two notes on the breeding of these geese on private waters in Great Britain; 

 one being by Mr. Frohawk. 



