Middendorff's Goose 



io 



who remain in this district till that time (August i) and kill the geese with their dogs. 

 On August 7 a female was killed on the Khaingia which had not yet completely finished 

 moulting, and weighed 8^ lbs/' г 



Of the eggs of this goose, I give measurements of Daurian specimens (from Aksha) 

 according to Taczanowski. In colour the eggs are almost white or yellowish, but after 

 being brooded they become dingy yellowish, and are blotched with grey. 



Breadth 



53-2 



mm. 



( = 2.09 in.), 1 



ength 



73-6 



mm. ( 



[ = 2.89 in.) 



>j 



53-6 



» 



(= 2.1 1 „ ), 



» 



78.2 





> 3.07 Л 



» 



55-8 



» 



(= 2.19 „ ), 



)> 



81.5 





[= 3-20 „). 



л 



55-3 



я 



О 2.17 „ ), 



>) 



82 





{ = 3-22 „). 



?) 



57 



» 



(= 2.24 „ ), 



j> 



85 





;= 3-34 ») 



)5 



57-3 



» 



( = 2.25 „ ), 



» 



88.4 





> 348 „). 



)> 



59 



» 



( = 2.32 „ ), 



)) 



90 





> 3-54 „) 



I add the following notes, from Mr. G. F. Gobel, on three examples of eggs, very 

 probably belonging to this goose, the property of the Zoological Museum of the Academy 

 of Science at St. Petersburg. 



" The eggs from Siberia are of the size of large specimens of the grey-lag {Anser 

 anser), but with the well-marked structure of the shell of a bean-goose (Melanonyx). I give 

 their dimensions, as they probably belong to M. arvensis sibiricus? 



"(a) Breadth 62 mm. ( = 2.44 in.); length 92.5 mm. ( = 3.64 in.); weight 2070 cgrm. 

 "(b) „ 62 „ ( = 2.44 „); „ 91-5 ,, ( = 3-6o„); „ 2022 „ 

 "(c) „ 61 „ ( = 2.40,,); „ 93-5 » (=3-68,,); „ 2082 „ 



"Mean breadth 61.7 mm. ( = 2.42 in.); mean length 92.5 mm. ( = 3.64); mean weight 2058 cgrm. 



"The length exceeds the breadth by 30.8 mm. (=1.21 in.), and in form they 

 consequently come nearest to the eggs of Ж brachyrhynchus." 



The measurements given both by Taczanowski and Gobel cannot be accepted as 

 absolutely belonging to eggs of the goose here described, although it is very probable that 

 they are referable to that species. 



Although a difference occurs in the size of the eggs described by Taczanowski and by 

 Gobel, it does not exceed the limits of variation which may be met with in different clutches 

 of one and the same species. 



The carelessness of egg-collectors, and their ignorance in the majority of cases of the 

 birds themselves, make it impossible to place any reliance on their determination of the 

 species of geese to which their specimens pertain. Accordingly, only when well-authenticated 

 eggs of the Siberian representatives of the genus Melanonyx are collected will it be possible 

 to say positively to which the above measurements and weights really refer. 



I may conclude this notice with an expression of regret that there are such a large 

 number of fowlers in Siberia who every year have the opportunity of observing and shooting 

 these geese, and who consequently become well acquainted with their habits and manners, 

 and yet so few observations are recorded. 



It is true, there are many descriptions of goose-hunts in Siberia in the sporting 

 magazines and books of travel, but in almost all cases the birds are called simply "geese," 

 and there are no indications by which it is possible to even approximately guess the species 

 of which the authors write. 



1 It must be remembered that the females are always considerably smaller and especially lighter than the ganders. 



2 Gobel' s MS. has Anser middendorfii. 



