458 



LAMELLI ROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



The specimen described above is an average representative of the typical form of Bernicla cana- 

 densis, known to liunters usually as the " Big Wild Goose." The distribution of this form is some- 

 what uncertain, but it apparently prevails in the region around Hudson's Baj^, and the United 

 States geiiL'ially, breeding as far south at least as the parallel of 40°, but now rare, except during 

 the migrations, east of the Mississippi Valley. 



Two specimens in the collection (Nos. 20116, Fort Simpson, May, 1860; B. R. Ross — "7?. 

 Barnstonii" on original label — and 53691, Truckee Meadows, Nev., Nov. 5, 1867 ; R. Ridgway) 

 have a well-defined band aci'oss the forehead, between the eyes, of speckled white and dusky. A 

 specimen formerly in the collection, but destroyed by insects, somewhere from the high north, had 

 this band unspotted white ! Xn. 9954, Rio Rita Laguna, New Mexico, has the entire lower parts 

 stained with reddish ochrac:()us, this being perhaps merely a discoloration from contact with ferru- 

 ginous (day. Among tlie variations of this large race of the Canada Goose are perhaps to be ranged 

 the Bernicla leucoUema, or White-frilled Goose of Murray, and the B. Barnstoni, or Barnstou's Goose 

 of Ross, descriptions of which are given farther on (see p. 460). 



j3. occidentalis. — Larger White-cheeked Goose. 



Adult (No. 5994, Port Townsend, Washington Territory ; Dr. Suckley) : Throat speckled with 

 black medially, indicating an isthmus, not complete enough, however, to se^jarate the white of the 

 opposite cheeks ; black of the neck bordered below and in front by a collar of pure white, abruptly 



defined against the dark grayish brown of the 

 jugulum. Plumage generally, dark grayish 

 unilier, the paler terminal Viorders to the feath- 

 ers very inconspicuous, the lower parts scarcely 

 paler than the upper, and abruptly defined 

 against the pure white of the crissum. Wing, 

 18.00 inches ; culmen, 1.65 ; tarsus, 3.05 ; 

 middle toe, 2.75. Tail-feathers, 18. 



No. 66615, Puget Sound, Dr. Kennerly, 

 differs in lacking the white collar ; No. 46228, 

 Sitka, May, 1866, F. BiscHOFF, is like the last, 

 but preserves a trace of the white collar. No. 

 23238, San Francisco, Cal., April, 1861, F. Gru- 

 BER, is considerably smaller, measuring, wing, 

 16.25 inches; culmen, 1.40; tarsus, 3.25 ; and 

 midtlle toe, 2.50. In coloration it is quite pe- 

 culiar : the very broad and continuous white 

 collar extends entirely around the neck, though 

 it is somewhat interrupted behind ; while be- 

 low, it is bordered by a very dark-brown collar, 

 which is nearly black at the edge of the white, 

 but fading off gradually into the ash of the 

 jugulum, which is considerably paler than in the 

 foregoing exam.ples. The feathers of the neck all appear to be white below the surface. 



As in the leucopareia, the seasonal differences of plumage are well marked in this race. The 

 white collar belongs only to fall and winter birds, in which the brown tints are darker and more 

 of an umber cast. As spring advances, the white gradually disappears, and in midsummer is 

 entirely obsolete, this change taking 2)lacc without moxdting of the feathers. 



B. Hutchinsii. 



y. Hutchinsi. — IIutchins's Goose. 



Adult (No. 49829, ^, Xulato, Lower Yukon, Alaska, May 9, 1867 ; W. H. Dall) : Exactly 

 like typical canadensis in colors. Wing, 16.35 inches ; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.90 ; middle toe, 

 2.10. Tail feathers, 15. 



In a large series of specimens, the following variations are noted : The ashy beneath varies from 

 the pale tint uUanadensis to the dark shades of leucopareia and occidentalis, but is usually about 



