ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — BERNICLA. 



457 



inches ; culmen, 1.55-2.70 ; deptb of niaudible at base, .80-1.20 ; width, .75-1.20 ; tar- 

 sus, 2.45-3.70 ; luiddk^ toe, 2.25-3.30. (Ten specimens measured.) Hah. United States 

 generally, and British Provinces, Lreedint,' cliietiy north of 40°. 



2. Occidentalis. Whole plumage more brown than in canadensis, the lower parts only 



slightly i)aler than the upper, the deep brown of the abdomen contrasted abruptly with 

 the white of the anal region ; white cheek-patches frecjuently separated by a black throat- 

 stripe, and white collar round lower neck usually very distinct in winter plumage. Wing, 

 16.25-18.00 inches; culmen, 1.40-1.65 ; depth of maxilla at base, .80-95; width, .70- 

 1.00 ; tarsus, 3.05-3.25 ; middle toe, 2.50-2.75. (Two specimens measured.) Hah. 

 Northwest coast, south to California in winter; north to Sitka. 

 B. Tail-feathers usually 13 to 16 ; size usually small. 



3. Hutchinsi. Exactly like canadensis in plumage, but averaging slightly darker ; size 



smaller. Wing, 14.75-17.75 inches; culmen, 1.20-1.90; depth of maxilla at base, .70- 

 1.00; width, .60-.85 ; tarsus, 2.25-3.20 ; middle toe, 2.05-2.80. (Seventeen .specimens 

 measured.) Hah. Breeding in the Arctic Regions, migrating south in winter, chiefly 

 through the Western United States and Mississippi Valley. 



4. Leucopareia. Exactly like occidentalis in colors, but averaging still darker, the size 



much smaller. Wing, 13.60-16.35 inches; culmen, .95-1.35 ; depth of maxilla at base, 

 .60-.75; width, .52-.70 ; tarsus, 2. 10-,3.]0 ; middle toe, 1.80-2.45. (Ten specimens meas- 

 ured.) Hah. Breeding in the Western Arctic Regions (coast of Alaska, etc.), migrating 

 southward into Western United States, though occasionally straying eastward to the 

 Mississippi Valley. 



It is barely possible that the several forms defined above really represent as many distinct 

 species, and the intermediate specimens which occur are the result of extensive hybridization ; or 

 there may be two species, a larger 

 and smaller {B. canadensis and B. 

 Hutchinsi), distinguished also by a 

 difference in the numljer of rectrices, 

 and each having a darker western 

 representative race. Indeed we are 

 inclined to regard the latter view with 

 considerable favor. At present, how- 

 ever, we can do no more than to de- 

 scribe each form in detail, and present 

 the history of each as known at the 

 present time.^ 



a. canadensis. — The Large Can- 

 ada Goose. 



Adult (No. 10402, Salt Lake, Utah ; 

 Captain Staxsbury) : Size very large, 

 the bill lengthened and depressed, 

 the lower parts pale gray in color, 

 fading insensibly into the white of the 

 anal region. White gular patch im- 

 maculate. Wing, 20.00 inches ; cul- 

 men, 2.10; tarsus, 3.30 ; middle toe, 

 3.20. Tail-feathers. 17. 



A. canadensis. 



1 Since the above was written many additional specimens of B. leucopareia liave been received at 

 the National Museum. These are so uniform in all their characters as to leave no doubt in my mind 

 that the species is di.stinct from B. canadensis. The relationship oi B. HutcMnsi is still uncertain, but 

 the probability is that it represents a lighter-colored inland race of leucopareia; though, on the other hantl, 

 it may be a small northern form of camidensis, bearing the same relation to the latter that Grus cana- 

 densis does to G. mexicana. —  li, R. 



VOL. I. — 58 



