444 
LAMELLIROSTRAL S WIMMERS — AN SERES. 
Cassin, who described this species in 1856, regarded it as being very rare, but not 
unknown on the Atlantic coast. He had seen but live specimens, one of which was 
from Oregon ; and the other four — which occurred in pairs — were found in the 
market in Philadelphia, and are now in the collection of the Academy of that city. 
Two were adults, and two were in immature plumage. 
Two examples of the smaller form were obtained in Ireland in November, 1871. 
Mr. Howard Saunders chronicled their occurrence at a meeting of the Zoological 
Society in 1872. He states that on the 9th of November his attention was attracted 
to two Geese hanging up in Leadenliall Market, London. By diligent inquiry he sub- 
sequently ascertained that they had been shot near Wexford, on the lake of Tacum- 
shin, on the south coast, by a boy. They were the only ones that had appeared 
there ; but there was a third one subsequently shot in Wexford Harbor. They had 
been swimming about on the lake for some days before they were shot. The lake 
adjoins the sea, from which it is separated by only a narrow ridge of sand; and it 
probably would be one of the first places birds would make if coming from the sea. 
Under the name of Ansar hyperboreus, Mr. Peale writes that it is impossible to 
convey any idea of the incessant clatter of sounds emitted by this and the White- 
fronted Goose when disturbed at night by some prowling wolf, as they all roost on 
the ground in wet prairies. The old Geese of this species generally keep together ; 
and their white plumage, contrasted with the dark ground, presents the appearance 
of snow-banks. Barely 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 en- 
abled to catch them with a lasso. Mr. Peale saw four that had been taken in this 
way in one afternoon. 
Two examples of this Goose rvere obtained at Fort Kesolution on the 26th of 
May by Mr. Kennicott. 
The egg of the Snow Goose is quite large as compared with the size of the bird, is 
oval in shape, the two ends being of unequal size, and the color is a uniform dirty 
chalky white. They average 3.40 by 2.20 inches. 
Chen Rossi. 
ROSS’S SNOW GOOSE. 
Anser Rossi, Baird, MS. Cass. Pr. Philad. Acad. 1861, 73. — Coues, Key, 1872, 282; Check List, 
1873, no. 481 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 553. 
Exanthemops Rossi, Elliot, Illustr. Am. B. IV. 1869, pi. 44. 
Chen Rossi, Ridgw. Pr. 0. S. Nat. Mus. 1880, 203 ; Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 592. — Coues, Check 
List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 697. 
Hab. Arctic America in summer, Pacific coast to Southern California in winter. 
Sp. Char. Adult: Colors exactly as in A. hyperboreus. Entirely snowy white, the primaries 
black, fading into hoary ash basally. Bill and feet dull reddish, the nails of the former white. 
Tomia of the bill closely approximated, the intervening space scarcely exposed. Latero-basal out- 
line of the bill straight ; base of the bill frequently waited or corrugated. Young : White, tinged 
with grayish, the centres of the feathers of upper parts deeper grayish ; bill and feet dusky. 
Wing, 13.75-15.50 inches ; culmen, 1.50-1.70 ; depth of maxilla at base, .85-95 ; width, .70-80 ; 
tarsus, 2.30-3.00 ; middle toe, 1.80-2.05 ; tail-feathers, 16.00. 
In adults obtained at the same season (winter or summer) there is great variation in the rough- 
ness of the base of the maxilla ; in many (perhaps a majority of specimens) the base is simply 
