58 Geese of Europe and Asia 



The structure of the bill brings this specimen nearest to the white-fronted goose. 



Wing . . . . ... . . • • 590 mm. ( = 23.20 in.) 



Oilmen 45 mm. ( = 01.77 in.) 



Greatest depth of lower mandible visible from without with shut bill. sk mm. ( = 00.21 in.) 



Nail of upper mandible contained 3J times in culmen ; it is dark, 

 with a horn-white and very sharp point. 



Base of bill dark, probably black during life. 



Number of teeth along sides of upper mandible not more than 22 or 23 (I did not open 

 the bill, in order to prevent spoiling this interesting specimen). Nail of lower mandible, 

 apparently, not black but light horn-colour. The light band and light colour passing from 

 this under the nares and along the edges of the upper mandible were, I was informed, 

 ochre-yellow ; but whether this was seen in the bird when just killed or some time after, 

 I do not know. 



Accordingly, the bill, of the type characteristic of the white-fronted goose, with the 

 exception of the less number of teeth and the comparatively larger nail on the upper man- 

 dible, in colouring and pattern recalls the bean-goose. Head and neck entirely light brownish, 

 with mousy shade ; near the upper mandible no traces of either white or black feathering 

 (latter peculiar to young A. albifrons). Feathers of back and scapulae dark brown with 

 lighter greyish brown tips. Breast light brownish grey, gradually becoming greyish white 

 on belly, which in its turn passes into the pure white of vent and lower tail-coverts. Flanks 

 light greyish brown with inconspicuous light tips, so that there is none of the barred effect 

 usually seen in adult geese of these races. Secondaries by their dark colouring sharply 

 contrasting with their greyish brown coverts, exactly as in typical A . albifrons. Rest of 

 plumage agreeing with that of young white-fronted geese. 



This female specimen must be considered as in her first year. It was obtained at 

 the end of October 1902, in Gryazovets, Vologda Government. 



I can only regret that this specimen was not an adult bird, in which case its 

 characteristic points would doubtless have been more marked. 



