VARIATION OF THE BEAN-GOOSE. 167 



under the nostrils is broader, but does not extend so far back as 

 to the feathered portion, but it does so in specimen/. In speci- 

 mens 6, h, i, and k the orange extends broadly backward under 

 the nostrils along the lower edge of the upper mandible, but in 

 addition to this there are large blotches, more or less denned, of 

 the same colour behind the nostrils. Specimen I comes next to 

 a in its likeness to " arvensis," as the black extends from the 

 culmen downwards only to the nostril, otherwise the whole upper 

 mandible (except the nail) is orange. It has thus evidently no 

 relation between the distribution of the colour of the bill and 

 the other characteristics, and nothing indicating racial or specific 

 differences. The variation of the colours of the bill might 

 sometimes be still greater, as Mr. Kolthoff has told me from his 

 rich experience, that he has shot Bean-Geese with almost the 

 whole bill black, and others with the whole bill — except the nail; 

 orange. 



If we now consider the number of laminae of the upper 

 mandible, the smallest number is found in the short-billed but 

 " arvensis" -coloured specimen a, viz. 22 on one and 23 on the 

 other side; 23 laminae are also found in the long-billed speci 1 

 men I, 24 in &, 25 in c and/, 27 in h, 28 in d and m, 29 in g, i, 

 and k. The largest number — 30 on one and 31 on the other 

 side — is found in specimen e. Within the limits of the variation 

 of ' 'segetum" thus come the short-billed a and b, and the long- 

 billed I ; several are intermediate (c, /, and h), but the others 

 might be termed " arvensis "-like. 



Concerning the development of the white feathers at the 

 base of the bill, the most short-billed specimen a is most 

 " arvensis "-like, having a broad continuous basal band. A 

 similar narrow band is present in specimen I, with a bill of 

 " arvensis " length. But, on the other hand, the rather long- 

 billed specimen h has not one white feather, and is thus 

 " segetum "-like. In/ there are some very few white feathers, 

 but not so many as to form patches. In all the others there is 

 a small frontal and still smaller lateral white patch at either 

 side of the base of the upper mandible. In specimens e, g, k, 

 and b these are very little developed, somewhat better in c, i, and m, 

 and almost confluent in d. The more or less great development 

 of white feathers at the base of the bill cannot denote any division 



