" Novaia Zemlia Bean-Goose" 121 



The colouring of the band on the bill of this example is pure vermilion, attaining 

 its greatest brightness on the culmen, while the legs and feet are described by Mr. 

 Frohawk as apricot-yellow. Attached to the drawing is the statement that the number 

 of teeth on each side of the upper mandible is 25, but that the hindmost one is very 

 small. 



In its structure the bill of this specimen agrees with those of typical bean-geese, 

 and the nail of the upper mandible is contained exactly 3! times in the total length of 

 the bill. Further details appear below. 



Weight . . 



Expanse ..... 



Total length of bird .... 



Length from apex of bill to base of neck 

 Wings ...... 



Wings projected beyond tail 



First and third of primary wing-feathers of same length. 



7 lbs. 3 oz. 

 4 feet io|- in. 

 3of in. 

 13 in. 



1 81 in. 

 Jin. 



Mr. Frohawk writes further that this is undoubtedly a typical bean -goose 

 [A. segetum) with abnormal colouring of the bill. In considering this bird a bean- 

 goose my correspondent is certainly right ; the figure of the head showing all the 

 characteristics of the species in question. As to the reasons for considering it abnormal, 

 we should bear in mind that very few of the observers who have had in their hands 

 bean -geese immediately after death, have directed their attention to the tint of the 

 colouring of the band. Geese with such colouring have been handled by competent 

 observers, in many cases some time after death, when it may be admitted that the 

 colouring would have already more or less changed. Further, it should be kept in view 

 that on the whole, as already said, M. segetum is far less numerous than the yellow- 

 billed goose, and old bean-geese, judging, at any rate, by their almost complete absence 

 from even large collections, are very rare; this last circumstance being explained by 

 the fact that old birds are generally obtained in much less numbers than the less wary 

 individuals. 



Moreover, I may once more remark that the number of teeth in the genus 

 Melanonyx apparently increases with age, so that those rudiments of teeth which in young 

 birds may easily escape attention, as years go on attain considerable development and 

 become easily noticeable. At present I can only say that my examinations of dried skins 

 have almost convinced me of the variability in the number of teeth in geese of the genus 

 Melanonyx with age, although I may note that in two or three cases I have come across 

 facts apparently contradictory to this hypothesis. In order to confirm or disprove the 

 supposition that the number of teeth may increase within certain limits with years, 

 investigations should be conducted with live birds kept in captivity, by counting the 

 teeth every year in the same individuals ; and the directors of zoological gardens might 

 come to the assistance of science on this point. 



From these and other considerations, and seeing the complete identity in all 

 respects save the vermilion band on the bill of the goose represented in Mr. Frohawk's 

 sketch with typical bean-geese, I cannot avoid expressing my conviction that in all fully 

 adult or, at any rate, old bean-geese the bill is normally not yellow- orange but either 

 vermilion-rose or flesh-colour of various tints. 



At the same time, I may direct the attention of the reader to the fact that this 



R 



