winters in wliicli the London markets are not well supplied with it. A fine-conditioned gander weighs from 
five to six pounds, and measures about 4 feet 3 inches from tip to tip of the wings when spread, so that it 
is a smaller bird thaji the Bean- and Grey Lag-Geese. The sexes are so nearly alike in colouring that they 
are scarcely distinguishable ; both have the black interrupted bars on the breast, a character which dilfers 
consideralily in extent in different individuals. 
Macgillivray gives so meagre an account of this species that it would seem to he far less plentiful in 
Scotland than in England; yet Sir William Jardine has met with it in Dumfriesshire and in the Edinburgh 
market, and St. John says that “ it arrives in Morayshire from its breeding-quarters in the arctic and 
northern regions about the middle of October in small companies of from six to twelve, and, if left tolerably 
undisturbed, frequents regularly the same swamp or piece of marsh till the end of April, feeding on aquatic 
plants, and in the spring frequently grazing on the young clover or green wheat. It is more easy of 
approach than any other wild goose;” and he “has often seen it feeding in small hollows and spots easily 
got at, where the Bean-Goose would never trust itself. Its cry is A^ery loud and peculiar, sometimes 
wonderfully resembling the loud laugh of a human being, whence its trivial name of “ Laughing Goose.” 
Sir John Richardson mentions that the Indians of the American fur-countries imitate this sound by patting 
the mouth with their hand, while they repeat the syllable timhr Mr. Thompson informs us that it “ is a 
regular winter visitant to Ireland, where, as in Great Britain, it is, next to the Bean-Goose, the species most 
frequently met with, and is brought during the season of every year to the Dublin market.” 
Mr. Selby remarks that “ this species varies from the Bean-Goose in preferring low and marshy districts 
rather than the upland and drier haunts affected by that bird, and in such localities subsists on aquatic 
grasses, being very seldom seen to frequent corn- or stubble-fields.” A specimen sent to him which had been 
killed near Alnwick, in Northumberland, “ had its stomach gorged with the tender shoots and leaves of the 
common clover {Tnfolium pratense), upon which it had been feeding on the termination of a severe snow- 
storm.” The bird also feeds on the leaves of turnips, beetles, other insects, and their larvae. Its flight 
is described as vigorous, and its gait on the ground as characterized by grace, rapidity, and ease. When a 
flock proceeds to any distance, the birds of which it is composed keep in single file. 
The White-fronted Goose is not known to breed in a wild state in any part of our islands ; and a pair in 
the Gardens of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park brought forth their brood from one of the islands 
to which they were restricted, and showed great anxiety for their safety. The egg is pale huffy white, about 
2 inches and 10 lines in length by 1 inch and 11 lines in breadth. 
Speaking of this bird, as seen in Norfolk, Mr. Stevenson says ; — 
“ This species, which is never observed in very large flocks, can scarcely he called a regular winter visitant, 
being rarely seen in our markets, except in severe weather. As an exception, however, to this rule, in the mild 
winter of 1851-2, a very unusual number of wild geese were shot in different parts of the county ; and on the 20th 
of December, the Norwich market exhibited the unusual appearance, amongst other fowl, of Dvo couple and a half 
of White-fronted, with Bean and Bernicle Geese, from Hickling and other localities ; and another White-fronted, 
from Blakeney, was sent up to Norwich the same day. All these birds were in perfect plumage— the White-fronted 
Geese, from the markings on the breast, being evidently adult ; but their poor condition seemed to indicate ‘ hard 
times,’ although, as already remarked, the weather was then unusually mild with us, and continued so up to the 
following February. From Mr. Dowell’s notes for the same year (1851) I And that on the 18th of December 
he saw a flock of some twenty White-fronted Geese at Flolkham, and on the same day he received a fine specimen 
which had been killed at Blakeney. This goose is considered by Lord Leicester rare at Holkham, except in 
hard weather, when it commonly appears in flocks of from five to ten, and, being less shy, is easier of approach 
than others ; but singularly enough, during the severe winter of 1870-71 this species, as Lord Leicester informs 
me, was not seen at all at Holkham ; and a single adult bird Avhich I purchased in the Norwich market, on the 
1 8th of February, was the only example that came under my notice during that inclement season. 
“The few recorded in my own note-books, since 1854, have been all killed during sharp frosts, between 
December and February — Avhich agrees with Hunt’s description of this species, that ‘ they visit the fenny parts of 
this county in small flocks, in severe winters.’ In West Norfolk, according to Mr. Lubbock, a good many WTiite- 
fronted Geese are sometimes observed Avith the Bean-, my as now distinguished, more probably with the Pink- 
footed. Blakeney and Holkham have been already mentioned as localities AA^here it is occasionally remarked ; and 
the brackish waters of Salthouse would seem to have attractions, as a fine old bird in my OAvn collection Avas 
killed there on the 22nd of December 1866, and Mr. DoAvell had one sent him from the same place so early as 
the month of October, 1850. The Messrs. Paget describe them as ‘ occasionally seen on Breydon ; ’ and Hickling 
Broad appears to be a favourite resort in sharp weather. 
“ The majority of specimens procured are in immature plumage, the bars on the breast being either Avanting or 
only partially assumed.” 
For further particulars as to the localities in Norfolk in Avhich this bird has been procured, I must refer 
the reader to my friend Stevenson’s third volume on the birds of that county. 
The front figure is about half the natural size ; the young birds somewhat less than life. 
