WATER BIRDS. 



117 



in some of the older lists (Kneeland, 1857), and vStockwell states that it is 

 "common in Michigan" (Forest and Stream, VIII, 23, 380). The bird is 

 not now common anywhere in the Great Lake region, in fact in most places 

 it appears to be only accidental. Kumlien & HoUister say "Formerly an 

 exceedingly abundant spring and fall migrant, but of late years not at all 

 plenty. Frequents the large prairie corn-fields " (Birds of Wisconsin, p. 28). 

 It breeds in the far north, building a nest on the ground, of grass, weeds, 

 etc., Hned with down. The eggs are six or seven, greenish-yellow, and 

 average 3.16 by 2.07 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



"Adult: Fore part of head, all round, to about half way across lores and forehead, 

 white; rest of head grayish brown (darkest next the white) as are also the neck and upper 

 parts, the latter varied by distinct grayish tips to the feathers; lower parts grayish white, 

 blotched or irregularly spotted with black; anal region, crissum and tail-coverts white; 

 greater wing-coverts ash-gray tipped with white; secondaries blackish edged with white; 

 upper and under tail-coverts white; tail dusky, tipped with white; bill light colored (yellow- 

 ish or orange in life) with white nail; feet light colored (orange or reddish in life). Young: 

 Similar to adult, but fore part of head dusky instead of white, lower parts without black 

 markings, and nail of bill dusky. 



Length 27 to 30 inches, wing 14.25 to 17.50; culmen 1.80 to 2.35, depth of upper mandible 

 at base .90 to 1.20, width .85 to 1.05, tarsus 2.60 to 3.20." (Ridgway). 



61. Canada Goose. Branta canadensis canadensis (Linn.). (172) 

 Synonyms: Wild Goose, Common Wild Goose, Big Gray Goose, Honker. — ^Anas 



canadensis, Linn., 1758. — Anser canadensis, 

 Boie, Baird, Ridgw., and others. 



Vieill., Nutt., Aud. — Bernicla canadensis, 



Figure 30. 



Known from any but Hutchins' 

 Goose by its black head and neck 

 and white "cravat," from this form 

 by its greater size, the weight rang- 

 ing from eight to twelve pounds. 



Distribution. — Temperate North 

 America, breeding in the north- 

 ern United States and British Prov- 

 inces; south in winter to Mexico. 



This is the Common Goose or Wild 

 Goose of the country and is familiar 

 to even the most unobservant from 

 the fact that it passes northward in 

 the spring and southward in the fall 

 in large noisy flocks which fly 

 ordinarily in the shape of a V, the 

 two sides of which are seldom equal. 

 It is usually stated that an old 

 gander always serves as the leader 

 and pilots the flock on their semi- 

 annual pilgrimages. This may be 

 true, but it is certain that different 

 members of the flock act as leaders 

 at different times, and it is not 

 likely that any one individual is 



invariably responsible for the direction of the flock. 



Fig. 30. Canada Goose. 



From photograph of mounted specimen. 



(Original.) 



