216 Sx\OW GOOSE. 



Western and Southern States, in autumn and winter. Breeds in the 

 Arctic Regions. Abundant. 



Adult Male. 



Bill about the length of the head, much higher than broad at the base, 

 somewhat conical, compressed, rounded at the tip. Upper mandible with 

 the dorsal line sloping, the ridge broad and flattened at the base, narrowed 

 towards the unguis, which is roundish and very convex, the edges beset with 

 compressed, hard teeth-like lamellae, their outline ascending and slightly 

 arched; lower mandible ascending, nearly straight, the angle long and of 

 moderate length, the dorsal line beyond it convex, the sides erect, and beset 

 with lamellae similar to those of the upper, but more numerous, the unguis 

 obovate and very convex. Nasal groove oblong, parallel to the ridge, filled 

 by the soft membrane of the bill; nostrils medial, lateral, longitudinal, 

 narrow-elliptical, open, pervious. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long and slender. 

 Body full, slightly depressed. Feet rather short, strong, placed about the 

 centre of the body; legs bare a little above the joint; tarsus rather short, 

 strong, a little compressed, covered all round with hexagonal, reticulated 

 scales, which are smaller behind; hind toe very small, with a narrow mem- 

 brane; third toe longest, fourth considerably shorter, but longer than the 

 second; all the toes reticulated above at the base, but with narrow transverse 

 scutella towards the end; the three anterior connected by a reticulated 

 membrane, the outer having a thick margin, the inner with the margin 

 extended into a two-lobed web. Claws small, arched, rather compressed, 

 obtuse, that of the middle toe bent obliquely outwards, and depressed, with 

 a curved edge. 



Plumage close, full, compact above, blended beneath, as well as on the 

 head and neck, on the latter of which it is disposed in longitudinal bands, 

 separated by narrow grooves; the feathers of the lateral parts small and 

 narrow, of the back ovato-oblong, and abruptly rounded, of the lower parts 

 curved and oblong. Wings rather long, broad; primaries strong, incurved, 

 broad, towards the end tapering, the second longest, but only a quarter of an 

 inch longer than the first, which scarcely exceeds the third; the first and 

 second sinuate on the inner web, the second and third on the outer. 

 Secondaries long, veiy broad, rounded, the inner curved outwards. Tail 

 very short, rounded, of sixteen broad rounded feathers. 



Bill carmine-red, the unguis of both mandibles white, their edges black. 

 Iris light brown. Feet dull lake, claws brownish-black. The general colour 

 of the plumage is pure white; the fore part of the head tinged with yellowish- 

 red; the primaries brownish-grey, towards the end blackish-brown, their 

 shafts white unless toward the end. 



