﻿WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 21 



NATATORES. ANATIDM- 



PLATE CCXXX. 



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



ANSER ALBIFRONS. 



The White-fronted Goose is, like the rest of its family, 

 a winter visitant in Great Britain, by no means uncom- 

 mon, but still not so numerous as some others, its num- 

 bers depending in a great measure upon the state of the 

 winter. 



We shot one of these birds in the month of February, 

 1847, on the Thames, after having observed it for several 

 days on a gravelly and broken bank of the river, that had 

 remained free from snow, on account of its sheltered 

 situation, while the entire neighbourhood was snow-clad ; 

 this bird was one of a flock that had been observed to 

 fly once or twice over the fields ; it did not seem to be shy, 

 as we met with it several times flying over our heads within 

 twenty yards, and also standing about on Chertsey Mead, 

 and in a cropped osier-bed ; this bird could not have been 

 left behind by its flock on account of any infirmity, as it 

 proved perfectly sound, with the exception of the wing, 

 that we broke in firing at it, and it was besides in the best 

 possible condition, and very excellent when roasted ; we 



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