File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14563951360).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeVGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
rey Lag, formsperhaps the best and readiest mark of distinction between the two species. The sexes are so nearly alike in the colour of their plumage that one description will serve for both ; nordoes there appear to be any perceptible change in their plumage at opposite seasons. It is said to breed in low marshy situations, the female laying from eight to twelve white eggs. The whole of the bill is black, with the exception of a band of pinky yellow (sometimes inclining to red)which surrounds both mandibles near the point; irides and orbits brown ; top of the head and back of theneck brown, the latter having longitudinal furrows, giving this part the appearance of being marked with darklines; the whole of the back, wings, flanks, and tail dark clove brown tinged with grey, each feather being-tipped with white; breast and abdomen greyish brown; vent, under tail-coverts, and rump white ; legsand webs orange. The Plate represents an adult male about a third less than the natural size. -
Text Appearing After Image:
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Anser albifrons, Linn. LOie rieuse, ou a front blanc. We have not been able to ascertain with any degree of certainty whether the jet black markings whichornament the breast of this species are only assumed during summer, or whether they are confined to certainexamples. While describing this bird in his Manuel dOrnithologie, we find M. Temminck equally at aloss with ourselves, for in a note appended to his description he states, that after inspecting the plumage ofthis Goose, I suspect that the species moult twice in the year, and that in summer the belly and chest are ofa deep black, while these parts in winter are pure white. I say only that case appears to me such, for itis by the naturalists in the North alone, who are able to observe this bird during the period of incubation,that this circumstance can be decided. The great numbers of this species brought to the London marketduring the first fortnight of January 1835, afforded us ample opportunities of examini

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