76 



SNOW GOOSE. 

 ANAS HYPERBOREA. 

 [Plate LX VIII.— Fig. 5, Male.'] 



L'Oye lie Mge, Briss. VI, p. 288. 10 — Wliite Brant, Lawson's Carolina^ p, ±57.--»Rrct. Zool, JW. 

 477 — Phil. Trans, 62 p. 413.— Lath. Syn. Ill, p, 445. — ^Peale's Museum, JVo. 2635. 



THIS bird is particularly deserving of the further investiga- 

 tion of naturalists ; for, if I do not greatly mistake, English wri- 

 ters have, from the various appearances which this species as- 

 sumes in its progress to perfect plumage, formed no less than 

 four different kinds, which they describe as so many distinct spe- 

 cies, viz. the Snow Goosey the White fronted or Laughing Goose^ 

 the Bean Goose^ and the Blue ivinged Goose ; all of which, I have 

 little doubt, will hereafter be found to be nothing more than per- 

 fect and imperfect individuals, male and female of the Snow 

 Goose, now before us. 



This species, called on the sea coast the Red Goose, arrives 

 in the river Delaware from the north, early in November, some- 

 times in considerable flocks, and is extremely noisy, their notes 

 being shriller and more squeaking than those of the Canada, or 

 Common Wild Goose. On their first arrival they make but a 

 short stay, proceeding, as the depth of winter approaches, farther 

 to the south ; but from the middle of February until the breaking 

 up of the ice in March, they are frequently numerous along both 

 shores of the Delaware, about and below Reedy Island, particu- 

 larly near Old Duck Creek, in the state of Delaware. They feed 

 on the roots of the reeds there, tearing them up from the marshes 

 like hogs. Their flesh, like most others of their tribe that feed 

 on vegetables, is excellent. 



