EXANTHEMOPS ROSSII. 
BOSS’ SNOW GOOSE. 
ANSER ROSSII. Cassis. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1861,) p. 72. 
HORNED WAVEY. Hearne. Journ. Nor. Ocean, p. 442. 
This, the smallest Goose known to inhabit North America, is a native of the extreme northern regions of our continent, rarely 
proceeding any distance to the southward. Kennicott was the first American ornithologist who met with it in its haunts, and he 
sent specimens to the Smithsonian from Great Slave Lake, that great resort of Arctic wild-fowl. Hearne gives the first description 
of the bird, in the work quoted above, under the name of Horned Wavcy. He says: “This delicate and diminutive species of Goose 
is not much larger than the Mallard Duck. Its plumage is delicately white, except the quill-featliers, which are black. The bill is 
not more than an inch long, and, at the base, is studded around with little knobs about the size of peas, but more remarkably so 
in the males. Both the bill and feet are of the same color with those of the Snow Goose. 
“ This species is very scarce at Churchill river, and, I believe, are never found at any ot the Southern settlements ; but about 
two or three hundred miles to the southwest of Churchill, I have seen them in as large flocks as the common Wavcy or Snow 
Goose. The flesh of this bird is exceedingly delicate ; but they are so small that, when I was on my journey to the North, I ate 
two of them one night for supper.” 
I have employed as a new generic term for this bird, that of Exanthemops, on account of the corrugated skin on the upper man- 
dible ; a character entirely wanting in every other Snow Goose, aud which alone would serve to distinguish this species from all of 
them, were there no other differences existing. 
This species makes the fourth of this particular group of Snow Geese known at present, and I believe that the accompanying- 
plate contains the first representation of the species ever given. 
The drawing is the production of Mr. Wolfs pencil, from a specimen kindly lent to me by Prof. Baird, of the Smithsonian 
Institution, and presents a very faithful portrait of the bird 
The entire plumage of Ross’ Goose is snow white, excepting the ends of the primaries, which are black. Bill and feet, together 
with the carunculated skin at the base of the former, red. 
The figure is of the natural size. 
