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E X A N T H E M O P S E O S S I I .
ROSS’ SNOV GOOSE.
ANSGR ROSSII. Cassin. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1861,) p. 72.
HORNED WAVEY. Hearne. Journ. Nor. Ocean, p. 442.
Tins, 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 Wavey. 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-feathers, 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 of 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 Wavey 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 mandible
; a character entirely wanting in every other Snow Goose, and 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 o f 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. Wolffs pencil, from a specimen kindly lent to me by Prof. Baird, of the Smithsonian
Institution, and presents a very faithful portrait o f 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 o f the former, red.
The figure is of the natural size.