348 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



GENUS ANSER. Brisson. 



Bill as long as, or shorter than the head, somewhat higher than broad, subcylindrical, flattened 

 towards the tip, and deflected : nostrils a little behind the middle. Neck moderately long. 

 Teeth short, conic, acute. Lores feathered. Wings moderate, acute, sometimes spurred. 

 Tarsus moderate. 



THE WILD GOOSE. 



Anser canadensis, 

 plate cvi. fig. 237. 



Anser canadensis. Willcghby, Orn. p. 276, pi. 70. 



Canada Goose. PENNANT, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 541. 



A. id. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 53, pi. 67, fig. 4. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 377. Ami. 



B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 178, pi. 376. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 348. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 



2, p. 468. 



Characteristics. Dark ash : head, neck and tail black ; cheeks and throat white ; bill and 

 feet black. Tail of 18 feathers. Length, 41 "0. 



Description. Bill shorter than the head, subcorneal, depressed at the tip. Tibia bare for 

 a short distance. Tarsus 3 "5, slightly compressed. Wings with a slight protuberance: 

 second quill longest. Tail very short, rounded, with 18 pointed feathers. 



Color. Head, the largest portion of the neck, quills, rump and tail black. Wings and 

 back dark brown, with paler edges. Sides of the rump, upper and under tail-coverts pure 

 white. Beneath yellowish grey or dusky white. Female, similarly marked, but the colors 

 not so vivid. 



Length, 40" 0-42-0. 



The Wild Goose observes the usual migrations of its tribe, but breeds through a very 

 extensive range of country. It was noticed breeding in Missouri by Mr. Nuttall. It breeds 

 sparingly from Mississippi to Nova-Scotia, according to Mr. Audubon, and abundantly in 

 Labrador and between the 60th and 70th parallels of latitude. It appears with us in large 

 flocks late in the autumn from the North, and remains until the bays are frozen over, affording 

 much amusement to the sportsmen, and profit to the gunners who pursue it as a business. 

 They return in the earliest spring, and soon migrate again to the North. The eggs are dull 

 yellowish green. It is frequently kept in a stale of domestication, and mates with the common 

 grey goose, producing hybrids which are much esteemed. It ranges across the continent, 

 and from 26° to 70° north latitude. 



