ANSERIN^E — THE GEESE — BERXICLA. 



459 



intermediate between the two extremes ; the white collar round the neck, at the lower edge of 

 the black, is seen only in autumnal or winter specimens. The white of the head is usually un- 

 interrupted on the throat, even in very dark-plumaged examples, but occasionally separated into 

 two patches by a black throat-stripe, as in leucopareia and occidentalis, the plumage otherwise being 

 light colored. 



8. leucopareia. — Little White-cheeked Goose. 



Adult (No. 62520, $ ad., St. Paul's Island, Alaska, May 14, 1872 ; H. W. Elliott) : Throat 

 with a black " isthmus " .75 of an inch broad, separating widely the white cheek-patches. A distinct 

 white collar between the black of the neck and dark brownish gray of the jugulum, this about .75 

 of an inch wide in front, and extending completely around, though much narrower, and somewhat 

 interrupted, behind. Lower parts dark brownish gray, abruptly defined against the white of the 

 crissuin. Wing, 14.25 inches ; culmen, 1.30 ; depth of maxilla at base, .75 ; width, .65 ; tarsus, 

 2.55 ; middle toe, 2.30. Tail feathers, 14. 



Other specimens in the collection are chiefly in summer plumage, having paler lower parts and 

 less conspicuous white collar ; but nearly all have the two cheek-patches completely separated by 

 a broad black isthmus on the throat. 



With only two exceptions, the specimens are from the Pacific coast, chiefly the northern 

 portion. 



No. 9956, North Eed River (September ; R. Kennicott), is one of the smallest in the series, 

 and is otherwise peculiar. It is apparently a young bird, as its plumage presents some features 

 indicative of immaturity. The black of the neck fixdes gradually into the smokj^ gray of the jugu- 



Waslioe Lake, Nev. (adult). 



St. Michael's, Alaska. ( cf nd- ) 



lum, without being separated by the usual white collar ; the white cheek-patches are thickly, 

 though minutely, speckled with black ; the feathers of the lower parts, and also the upper tail- 

 coverts, have blackish shafts. It measures as follows : Wing, 13.70 inches ; culmen, 1.25 ; tarsus, 

 2.60 ; middle toe, 2.10. The smallest examples we have seen are the following : — 



There are others but slightly larger. Any of the above could stand, in a natural attitude, 

 beneath the breast of some of the larger examples oi canadensis or occidentalis; still, other speci- 



