THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 249 



and Sutherland — thirty or forty pairs having their nests annually 

 on Lake Laighal. In France this bird is called the Harvest Goose. 



The Canadian Goose {Anser canadensis, Fig. 91) is a handsome 

 bird with white markings about the junction of the head and neck. 

 They are not so large as the Grey4ag Goose, and are very abundant 

 in North America, where they are migratory. 



The Bernicle Goose {Anser bernicla) is so called from a foolish 

 tradition of the Middle Ages of their being produced from the 

 barnacle shell which attaches itself to ships' bottoms and timber 



Fig. 92. — White-fronted Bernicle. 



floating in the sea. They differ from the true Geese in having the 

 head smaller, the bill shorter and more conical, the breast-feathers 

 much larger, and in the predominance of black in their plumage, 

 bills, and feet. The plumage is full, very soft, and close. There are 

 several species of Bernicla. The one above described, and the White- 

 faced Goose {Anser erythrofius, Fig. 92), are the best known. 



The White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus). 



In its winter plumage this is a beautiful goose, much smaller than 

 those just described, but with a full body, long neck, and a small, 

 oblong, and compressed head, with soft glossy plumage well blended 



