ANSERINiE — THE GEESE — ANSER. 
447 
From these measurements it may be readily seen that the three forms intergrade as to general 
size, the hill being the only member in which there is a constant difference ; and as we are not 
aware of any positive characters of coloration, it seems very probable that they constitute merely 
races of one species. At any rate, we shall so here regard the American form and its nearest 
European ally (A. albifrons), leaving the final determination of the question (if determinable it 
be) to future investigators. 
Another species of true Anser — the Bean Goose (A. segetum) — has been credited to North 
America by Nuttall (“Man.” ii. 1832, p. 348 ; “Canada and Hudson’s Bay”) ; but apparently 
without good authority for so doing. Considering the possibility of its occurrence, however, its 
principal synonymy and characters are herewith given : — 
Anser segetitm (6m.) Bp. The Bean Goose. 
Anas segetum, Gm. S. N. I. 1788, 512. 
Anser segetum, Meyer, Tasch. II. 554, et Auct. 
Anser arvensis, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. 838. 
? Anser rufescens, 
Anser platyuros, 
Brehm, t. c. pp. 837, 838. 
Sp. Char. “Male thirty inches long ; bill moderately thick, nearly as long as the head, two 
inches and a third in length, and an inch and two twelfths in height at the base, nine twelfths in 
A. albifrons. 
height behind the circular unguis, yellowish orange, with the base and unguis black ; tarsus three 
inches long, dull orange-yellow ; the wings longer than the tail ; feathers of the neck linear-oblong, 
disposed in ridges ; head and neck grayish brown ; upper parts dark brown and gray, barred with 
the whitish terminal margins of the feathers ; hind part of back blackish brown ; lower parts pale 
brownish gray, becoming white behind. Female similar, but smaller. Young with the upper parts 
darker, the head and neck of a lighter brown, three small patches of white feathers at the base of 
the bill” (Macgillivray, “'Hist. Brit. B.” IV. 1852, p. 595). 
