280 



KEY A AD DESCRIPTION 



GEESE (SUBFAMILY ANSERINE) 



Characteristics given on p. 276 



Key to the Species 



* Wing, 8-10 long ; Louisiana to Texas 10. Fulvous Tree-duck. 



* Wing over 11 long. (A.) 



A. Serrations on the cutting edge of the upper mandible scarcely visi- 

 ble from the side at all ; if visible then only at the base ; bill, feet, 

 and portions of the head black. (D. ) 

 A. Serrations visible from the side for more than half the length of 

 bill; bill and feet pale. (B.) 

 B. Depth of bill at base about ^ the length of cuhnen ; forehead white 



in the adult 5. White-fronted Goose. 



B. Depth of bill at base much greater than \ the length nf L'uluien. (C.) 

 C. General plumage of adult white ; young grayish-brown with the 



wing coverts widely margined with white 8. Snow Goose. 



C. General plumage gray, grayish-brown, or brown without conspicuous 



white margins to the wing coverts 4. Blue Goose. 



D. Head without white but the side of the neck with white streaks ; belly 



white 7. Brant. 



D. Head without white but the side and front of the neck with white 



streaks ; belly brownish-gray 8. Black Brant. 



D. Head with a whitish triangular patch on the cheek and throat (these 



parts are mixed with blackish in the young) (!. Canada Goose. 



D. Head mostly white ; lores black !). Barnacle Goose. 



3. Lesser Snow Goose (1G9. Chen liyperhorea). — A large, 

 white-pliuuagetl goose, with black-tipped primaries, and red 

 bill and feet. The young has much grayish on the head and 



back ; rump, tail, and 

 lower parts white, and 

 white margins to the 

 wing coverts. This, 

 the smaller snow 

 <\ is rarely found 

 .1,: of the Missis- 

 sippi. The eastern 

 form is given below. 



Length, 23-28; wing, 

 14.\-17 ; tail, 5^; tarsus, 

 Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley ; breeding 

 in Alaska, and wintering south to Illinois and California. The Greater 



Lesser Snow Goose 



2f-3i ; cuhnen, 2-2^. 



