AN SEE GAMBELI AS A BRITISH BIBD. 345 



has got new feathers on all parts of its body, so that all the 

 important subsequent changes are a result of the continued 

 deposition of the colouring matter into the feathers. In this 

 specimen there is an extraordinary amount of white on the front 

 of the head extending beyond the commencement of the eyes. 

 Dissection proved it to be an immature male. 



Length 28 in.; wing 16^ in.; weight 5 lb. 2 oz. ; bill 2*17 in.; 

 tarsus 2" 91 in. ; neck 9 in. 



Seventh stage. The drab of the under parts has become 

 more pronounced, while the black has greatly increased, and 

 now forms almost unbroken bands across the lower parts ; great 

 numbers of the drab feathers have the black pigment being 

 thrown into them. 



Adult male. — Length 29 in.; wing 18 in.; weight 5 lb.; 

 bill 2'24 in. ; tarsus 3*0 in. 



In all these four stages the colour of the soft parts is much 

 deeper than in corresponding stages of A. albifrons, being of a 

 distinct deep reddish orange. In some the entire bill is a bright 

 orange scarlet, the nail also being suffused with red while the 

 bird is quite fresh. The brilliancy of colour in the legs and bill 

 appears to increase as the bird nears the breeding stage. Tongue 

 and inside mouth white. Eyelid yellowish umber. 



Eighth stage. All that need be said here in connection with 

 this bird is to note the largely increased amount of black on the 

 under parts, which extends almost to the vent, and has ceased 

 to form bars ; they are great patches with drab feathers inter- 

 spersed. 



Female. — Length 27| in. ; weight (a thin bird) 4|- lb. ; bill 

 2'1 in. ; tarsus 2'75 in. ; wing 16^ in. ; neck 9 in. 



Ninth stage shows a still further increase of black on the 

 under parts, and leads up directly to the final two breeding 

 birds. 



Female. — Length and weight not taken ; wing 17jin.; bill 

 2*1 in.; tarsus 2'85 in. 



Anser albifrons. — Sixth, seventh, and eighth stages. Shot, 

 Galway, January 25th, 1902 ; January 14th, 1902 (two). 



In the sixth and seventh stages of this bird it is very evident 

 that the under parts had become much paler than in the fourth 



