VOL. III.] Geese which occu?- in California. 99 



In 1884, the Sacramento Record-Union of Sept. 2 noticed the ar- 

 rival of geese, which were unquestionably of this species. 



It is sometimes named the laughing goose, a name probably de- 

 rived from its notes rather than from its gaping mouth. 



Canada Goose. Branta canadensis. Mr. Fannin says: " It is 

 a very abundant resident of British Columbia, breeds throughout 

 the interior of the mainland, appears in great flocks along the lower 

 Frazer River during the winter months and affords fine sport for the 

 hunters." 



Dr. J. C. Merrill in the Auk of April, 1888, says (at Fort Klam- 

 ath): " Of occidentalis I saw none, although they doubtless occur 

 here. Canadensis seemed to be typical. ' ' 



Like Otocoris alpestris merrilli ^.r\A other birds, the Canada goose 

 probably crosses the mountains and spends the winter in the Sacra- 

 mento Valley, and perhaps in other parts of this State. In Yuba 

 and Butte counties I have occasionally during many years noticed 

 small, paler flocks of " Honkers," which reminded me of those I 

 had seen and shot on the Illinois and Platte rivers. 



HuTCHiNs's Goose. Brayita canadensis kritcJiinsii. This for con- 

 venience on this occasion, we will call the medium-sized honker. 

 It breeds in Alaska. 



It is very abundant in the State in winter, arriving in the Sacra- 

 mento Valley about the tenth of October. My earliest fall notice of 

 it in Butte County is Oct. 9, 1884, at which time it was abundant. 

 In the fall of 189 1 I did not see or hear it until about Oct. 20, and 

 my observations accorded with those of the market hunters on 

 Butte Creek. It remains in the Sacramento Valley until about 

 April 20, sometimes a {(tw days later. 



It goes about one hundred miles south of San Diego, according 

 to Mr. Anthony, and is numerous in parts of San Diego County in 

 winter. 



Its notes are unlike the notes of occidentalis , and are also difi'er- 

 ent from the notes of minima. I think it varies more in size than 

 the latter, and that this variation is responsible for the difficulty ex- 

 perienced by some writers in separating them. 



This goose was abundant during March, 1S92, on Butte Creek, 

 and about Gridley. but I did not hear or see 7?iinima. I have often 

 seen them in separate flocks, but I oftener see these, like other 

 geese, in large mixed flocks of various kinds. 



