SNOW GOOSE. 



495 



The specimen from which the above figure and description 

 was taken, was shot on the Delaware, below Philadelphia, on 

 the 15th of February, and on dissection proved to be a male ; 

 the windpipe had no labyrinth, but, for an inch or two before 

 its divarication into the lungs, was inflexible, not extensile, 

 like the rest, and rather wider in diameter. The gnllet had 

 an expansion before entering the stomach, which last was re- 

 markably strong, the two great grinding muscles being nearly 

 five inches in diameter. The stomach was filled with frag- 

 ments of the roots of reeds, and fine sand. The intestines 

 measured eight feet in length, and were not remarkably thick. 

 The liver was small. For the young and female of this species, 

 see plate lxix., fig. 5. 



Latham observes that this species is very numerous at Hud- 

 son's Bay, that they visit Severn river in May, and stay a 

 fortnight, but go farther north to breed ; they return to Severn 

 Fort the beginning of September, and stay till the middle of 

 October, when they depart for the south, and are observed to 

 be attended by their young in flocks innumerable. They seem 

 to occupy also the western side of America, as they were seen 

 at Aoonalashka,* as well as Kamtschatka.f White brant, 

 with black tips to their wings, were also shot by Captains 

 Lewis and Clark's exploring party near the mouth of the 

 Columbia river, which were probably the same as the present 

 species. \ Mr Pennant says, " They are taken by the Siberians 

 in nets, under which they are decoyed by a person covered with 

 a white skin, and crawling. on all-fours ; when, others driving 

 them, these stupid birds mistaking him for their leader, follow 

 him, when they are entangled in the nets, or led into a kind 

 of pond made for the purpose ! " We might here with pro- 

 priety add — this wants confirmation. 



* Ellis's Narrative. + History of Kamtschatka. 



J Gass's Journal, p. 161. 



END OF VOL. II. 



