io8 Geese of Europe and Asia 



Greatest depth of lower mandible seen from without with shut bill 9-12 mm. ( = 0.35-047 in.). 



Tarsus 74-84 mm. ( = 2.91-3.30 in.). 



Middle digit without claw 73-76 mm. ( = 2.87-2.99 in.). 



Claw of middle digit circa 16-17 mm. (0.63-0.66 in.). 



Number of teeth on each side of upper mandible, 24-30 ; 24 I met with only once. 



Geographical Distribution 



Although, in consequence of the confusion of this goose with large specimens of 

 other representatives of the genus Melanonyx (M. segetum sernrostris and M. mentalis), 

 the range is not fully ascertained, yet it may be asserted with confidence that the species 

 abounds everywhere in East Siberia, from the Taimyr peninsula eastwards to Kamchatka, 

 Chukchiland, and the Komandor Islands. 



How far north it travels to breed cannot yet be exactly determined, but we know 

 that it nests on the River Boganida, on the lower reaches of the Yana, on the Vilyui 

 in the Yakut Government, and almost everywhere throughout Siberia between Lake Baikal 

 and the Sea of Japan, near great rivers and lakes southwards to 50 N. lat. and possibly 

 still farther south. 



It breeds on the Chukchi peninsula and in Kamchatka, and, probably, in suitable 

 spots along the whole coast of the Okhotsk Sea. 



This goose nests alike in the lowlands and on the hills. It migrates to pass the 

 winter in China and Japan, but how far it descends southwards for this purpose we have 

 no idea. 



In the notice of the yellow-billed species I have already refused to credit the alleged 

 wintering of the Siberian form in Turkestan, at any rate on the basis of existing data. 

 In like manner not a single case is authenticated of this goose straying into European 

 Russia and Western Europe, although it may of course happen that such a visit takes 

 place. It is recorded, for instance, that a specimen of Nyroca bceri, Radde, was killed 

 in 1 90 1 near Tring. 



Neither is the western boundary of the nesting area of this species in Siberia yet 

 established. Middendorff, indeed, found it on the Boganida, but it is quite possible that 

 it breeds even still farther west, thus meeting the typical yellow-billed species. 



This goose arrived on the Tarei-nor, according to Radde, simultaneously with the 

 grey-lag (A user anser) at the end of March, so that it is among the first of the geese; 

 but on the Irkut, in the same year, it arrived in May, which must probably be ascribed 

 to chance. On the Boganida it appears, according to Middendorff, in flocks at the same 

 time as M. segetum (= arvensis}), to the note of which species its own is similar, although 

 hoarser. It also moults simultaneously with the latter, and consequently breeds at the 

 same time. According to the statements of the natives, this goose dives excellently, 

 so that it is captured only with difficulty by the fowler. 1 



With regard to its breeding on the Vilyui, Mr. Maak remarks that : " It builds its 

 nest near the Vilyui and its tributaries, on lakes far removed from habitations, and young 

 in down were found as early as June 8. Moulting usually continues till the beginning 

 of August; on July 29 I found moulting birds, while on August 4 on the Khaingia (65 

 N. lat.) some flocks of this species were already flying. 



"This observation is in complete accord with the statements of the local Tungus, 



1 Of course fowler here must be understood to mean the trader, who takes his geese while moulting. 



