THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 239 



apparently extending further on bill. Weight 4 to 6 lbs. (Popham). 

 Other structure as in A . anser. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad.) whitish flesh-colour, sometimes light 

 orange -yellow, nail white ; (juv.) yellow-grey or grey flesh-colour 

 or grey with lilac tinge, nail greyish ; legs and feet (ad.) orange 

 with paler membranes, sometimes reddish flesh-coloured, claws 

 whitish ; iris dark hazel ; eyelids greyish sometimes with yellowish 

 shade or brownish-grey but never lemon-yellow or orange as in 

 A. erythropus. 



Characters and allied forms. — A. a. gambeli (N. America) 

 doubtful form said to be larger, but material from breeding grounds 

 required for confirmation. For distinctions of A. erytliropus see 

 under that species. Whitish flesh-coloured or yellow bill with white 

 nail, dark brown back and rump, ash-brown lesser and lower 

 median coverts, and in adults broad white band at base of bill 

 distinguish A. albifrons in all plumages from other British " Grey" 

 Geese. 



Field -characters. — Appears much darker than either Grey Lag 

 or Pink-footed, and apart from its white stern, shows no markedly 

 paler appearance on rising or spreading its wings. At close range 

 barred under -parts and white fore-heads are distinctive. Unlike 

 other "Grey" Geese, prefers bogs as feeding ground, and is more 

 apt to split up into family parties or small lots. More active in 

 flight than other " Grey " Geese and possesses an astounding power 

 of ;t reversing engines " when scared. A party within 25 feet of a 

 shooter's head as he lies prone, will shoot up perpendicularly to 

 long gun range, if not out of it, before he can raise himself to put 

 his gun up, and similarly they can rise almost perpendicularly from 

 ground. No other British Goose has (or exercises) this power in 

 same degree. Notes less nasal than Grey Lag or Pink-footed, more 

 querulous, more highly pitched and more musical, uttered in 

 quicker time and possessing a curious metallic ring — a strangely 

 haunting sound. Less sensitive than Grey Lag to scent of man 

 but will often get " the wind " at 100 yards. (William Percy.) 

 Breeding-habits. — Breeds on tundra or bare lava flats. Nest. — 

 On tundra heap of heather, grasses, moss, etc., mixed with down 

 and feathers, but in lava sand, merely a hollow lined with down. 

 Eggs. — Usually 4 to 6, occasionally 7, creamy-white but becoming 

 stained as incubation progresses. Average of 81 eggs, 78.3x53.4. 

 Max.: 88.5x56.5 and 85x59. Min. : 72.3x51 and 75.6x49.2 

 mm. Breeding -season. — End May and early June in Iceland. 

 Incubation. — By female apparently. Period not definitely recorded, 

 but said by Faber to last 30 days (?). Single -brooded. 



Food. — Mainly grasses from salt-marshes. Naumann specifies 

 Plantago maritima, P. subulata, Triglochin maritimum, Ameria 

 maritima, Poa distans. Also Tri folium repens and remains of large 

 beetles, and probably at times grain, green shoots of reed and sedge, 

 etc. 



