WILD FOWL 
LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 
ANSER FINMARCHICUS 
Anser finmarchicus, Gunner, Leemii de Lappon. Comm, notis, p. 264 (1767); Alph6raky, 
Geese of Europe, p. 59, pis. v, vi and xxii (1905). 
Anser erythropus, Dresser, Birds Europe, vi, p. 383 (1879); Hume & Marshall, Game Birds 
Ind., iii, p. 77, pi. xi (1880); Salvador!, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxvii, p. 97 (1895). 
DULT male. — Very similar to the white -fronted goose, but 
easily distinguished by its smaller size and much shorter 
/ ^ bill, and by having the white on the forehead (in adults 
i liL at least) much more extensive, reaching to a line drawn 
/ between the posterior margins of the eyes. Iris dark 
.jL a. brown; bill orange, nail whitish; legs, toes and mem- 
branes orange -yellow. Total length about 21 inches; bill 1 '3 inches; 
wing 14*5 inches; tail 4*0 inches; tarsus 2 ’5 inches. 
Adult female, — Similar to the male, but rather smaller. Wing 13*7 
inches. 
General distribution, — ^The lesser white-fronted goose has been generally 
confused with its larger but perfectly distinct ally A , albifrons. It is known 
to nest in Lapland and the Kanin Peninsula, and though not at present 
known to breed in Kolguev, certainly does so in Novaya Zemlia. It appears 
also to inhabit the whole tundra of Northern Siberia in suitable localities, 
from the Yenesei eastwards to Kamchatka. Its winter-range is very 
difficult to define, but it appears to occur sparingly or rarely over the 
whole of Western Europe in the late autumn and winter as far south as 
Southern Spain. In Northern and Eastern Europe it is often seen in con- 
siderable numbers, and vast flocks have been observed in autumn near 
Taganrog, on the Sea of Azov ; it is a winter-visitor to Turkey and 
Greece. It no doubt also visits the Black Sea, and has been found in 
North Egypt. To the Caspian Sea it is a numerous winter-visitor, and is 
met with eastwards in Persia, India, South China and Japan, while it is 
very common on Lake Baikal and in other parts of Northern Asia. The 
present species, as already stated, has been so constantly confused with 
its larger ally that it has been found impossible to trace its range with 
any certainty. 
Distribution in the British Isles, — The lesser white -fronted goose is a 
rare straggler to the British Isles, and has only been recorded from 
Northumberland, Yorkshire, Norfolk, and possibly the Solway district. 
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