334 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Entire plumage white, except the primaries, which are pale cinere- 

 ous at base, and black in the terminating two-thirds of their length. 

 Front and cheeks spotted with ferruginous; bill and feet red. Young, 

 with the primaries entirely cinereous, and the entire upper plumage 

 of that color. 



This species has never been figured ; and five specimens, four of 

 which are in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, and one in 

 that of the present Expedition, are all that have come under our notice. 

 Though allied to and resembling the Snow Goose of the Atlantic States, 

 this bird is not difficult to distinguish on comparison. 



Under the name of Anser hyperhoreus, but in allusion, as we think, 

 to the present bird, Mr. Peale gives the following : 



" It is quite impossible to convey to our readers an idea of the in- 

 cessant clatter of sounds emitted by these, the two last-mentioned 

 Geese" (the present and the White-fronted Goose), "and the Storks, or 

 Sandhill Cranes, when disturbed at night by some prowling wolf, as 

 they all roost on the ground in wet prairies. The old Snow Geese 

 generally keep together, and their white plumage contrasted with the 

 dark ground presents the appearance of snow banks. 



" Rarely seen in the water ; they remain all winter in California, 

 and the southern parts of Oregon. When they first arrive from the 

 north, they are very tame, allowing persons to approach very near, 

 and a skilful rider on a horse is enabled to catch them with a lasso 

 (the noose used by the Californians for catching cattle and horses). 

 By this process, we have seen four that were taken in one afternoon, 

 by a Californian." 



The occurrence of Geese in large numbers is also mentioned by Dr. 

 Pickering, in Oregon and California. 



2. Anser Gambelii, Hartlauh. — The American White-fronted Goose. 



Anser Gamheh'i, Hartlaub, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1852, p. 7. 

 " Anser albi/rons, Gm." Auct. American. 



Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCLXXXVI ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXX. 



This species appears to be quite distinct from that of Europe, with 

 which it has been usually regarded as identical, a fact first pointed out 



