826. Anser erythropus

826. Lesser White-fronted Goose.
ANSER ERYTHROPUS.
Anser erythropus (Linn.), Syst. Nat. i. p. 197 (1766) ; Newton, P.Z.S. 1860, p. 341 ; David and Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 492 ; Dresser, vi. p. 383 ; Salvadori, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xxvii. p. 97 ; Tacz. F. O. Sib.
O. p. 1093 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. Birds, iv. p. 418 ; A. temminckii, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 882 ; A. minutus, Naum. xi. p. 365, Taf. 290 : Seebohm, B. Jap. Emp. p. 238.
Zwerggans, German ; Dwerggans, Dutch ; Dvoerggaas, Dan. and Norweg. ; Dverggas, Fjellgas, Swed. ; Kiljuhanhi, Finn. ; Piskun, Russ. ; Ko-karigane, Jap.
Male ad. (Norway). Differs from A. albifrons in being darker and smaller, the bill smaller and the white on the forehead extending nearly to the centre of the crown ; bill fleshy white, nail pale horn legs and edge of eyelid orange-yellow. Culmen 1.5, wing 15.5, tail 5.0, tarsus 2.5 inch.
Hab. Northern Scandinavia, rare in the west and not found in Great Britain ; rare in winter in central and southern Europe, and as far south as Egypt ; Northern Asia, east to Japan, straying, though rarely, south to India in winter.
In habits it resembles A. albifrons. It breeds in certain districts in Lapland, nesting on the ground under bushes near water, and in June deposits 6 to 8 dirty yellowish white eggs, which measure about 2.91 by 2.0.