438 
ANSER A LB IF RONS. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 28• 50; stretch, 58*50; wing, 15*55; tail, 5*65; bill, 
2-05; tarsus, 2*95. Longest specimen, 31*00; greatest extent of wing, 62*00; longest wing, 17*00; tail, 5*80; bill, 2*10; tarsus, 
3 12. Shortest specimen, 26*00; smallest extent of wing, 55*00; shortest wing, 14*00; tail, 5*50; bill, 2 00; tarsus, 2*80. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eggs, from five to eight in number, el¬ 
liptical in form, yellewish-white in color. Dimensions from 1*90x2*80 to2*00x3*00. 
HABITS. 
The Snow Goose is exceedingly rare in the section east of the Mississippi, south of 
Canada, and I have never seen a specimen living. It is, however, abundant in the West 
during winter, when it is described as having similar habits to those of other Geese. It 
breeds in the far North. 
ANSER ALBIFRONS. 
White-fronted Goose. 
Anser albifrons Bechst., Naturg. IV, 898. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sr. Ch Size, large. Form, robust. Color. Adult. Above and on sides, bluish-gray, becoming brownish on head 
and neck. Forehead, upper tail coverts, and under portions, excepting neck, white, becoming grayish anteriorly, where it 
is irregularly blotched with black. Wings ashy-gray, becoming dark-brown on secondaries and tips of primaries: the great¬ 
er coverts, tipped with white. Tail feathers, brown, also tipped with white. Axillaries and under surface of wings, plum¬ 
beous. Iris, brown: bill and feet, red. Young. Similar but paler, and less spotted beneath. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known by the white forehead and spotted breast. Distributed, in summer, throughout Arctic America, wintering 
in the West. Rare in New England during the migrations. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 29*00; stretch, 59*00; wing, 16*20; tail, 5*35; bill, 
1*95; tarsus, 2*65. Longest specimen, 29*75; greatest extent of wing, 59*85; longest wing, 16*45; tail, 5*55; bill, 2 05; tar¬ 
sus, 2*85. Shortest specimen, 28*00; smallest extent of wing, 58*25; shortest wing, 15*95; tail, 5*15; bill, 1*85; tarsus, 2*40. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of weeds, grass, etc. ,Eggs, six to ten in number, elliptical 
in form, yellowish-white in color. Dimensions from 2*05x2*95 to 2*10x3*20. 
HABITS. 
Like the Snow Goose, the White-front is seldom seen in New England or southward 
but is very abundant in the West, where numbers are shot every season, and from which 
point they are sent into our markets during cold weather. Like nearly all member's of the 
present order, these birds are also migratory, breeding in the far North. Both this and 
the preceding species are occasionally taken by gunners on the coast of North Carolina. 
GENUS III. BERNICLA. SHORT-BILLED GEESE. 
Gen. Ch, Bill, not quite as long as head and black in color. Hind toe, quite short. Marginal indentations, very wide 
and open. 
Members of this genus are very dark in color, with few or no conspicuous marks of white. Tracshea, straight, without 
dilatation. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 
BERNICLA CANADENSIS. 
Canada Goose. 
Bernicla Canadensis Boie., Isis: 1826, 921. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Si*. Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Tail feathers, from fourteen to twenty. Color, Adult. General color, smoky- 
brown becoming paler beneath, with edges of feathers becoming lighter. Head, neck, rump, tips of primaries, and tail, 
