PRr!C?:EDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 445 



Joaquin River, coming sontli with otlier Geese in the fall. It is said to 

 become very tame when winged, following its captor after being kept 

 a little while.— R. E.l 



ad. Stockton market Dec. —,1878 



189. Anser gambeli (Hartlaub). — American White-fronted Goose. 



The White-fronted Goose was first seen at Stockton September 7, 

 1878, though rare until October. It is more abnndaut than any otlier 

 of the Geese which visit California, usually coming first and lea\dng last. 



Geese, in the aggregate, are very abundant in the valleys, and are in 

 some localities so destructive to young wheat that farmers resort to 

 various expedients to protect their grain from their ravages; among 

 others, that of hiring hunters to ride over their fields and drive them 

 away. 



76651 — ad. 



Stockton?. 



Head only. 



190. Branta canadensis, (Linn.). — Canada Goose. 



This species usually arrives and departs at about the same time as the 

 Anser f/ambeU. Toward the middle of March, when hunting in the foot- 

 hills, sometimes not far below the snow-line, on pleasant sunny morn- 

 ings, flocks of "Honkers" have often been seen, high above the hills, 

 going toward the summit of the mountains, probably on their way to 

 the valleys and lakes east of the Sierra !N^evada. 



76648 — ad. i Stockton ? 



191. Branta hutchinsi, /?. leucoparia, (Brandt). — White-cheel'ed Goose. 



[In regard to this species, Mr. Belding writes: — "I send head and 

 wing of a 'brant,' which I cannot match with any of the descriptions in 

 vol. ix. Pacific E. R. Reports. You must be well acquainted with it, as 

 it is abundant in California in winter. It is by some called the 

 ' Squawking Goose.' Tail-feathers 16." — R. R.] 



76650 — ad. | Stockton . 

 76649 —ad. I do . . 



I 



1 Head only. 



Dec.—, 1878 Head,wing,andtail.^ 



192. Dendrocygna fulva, (Gm.). — Fulvous Tree Duclc. 



Tills Duck is rarely seen in the interior at or north of Stockton. I 

 have seen one in market here ; also a fine specimen shot at Mary sville 

 last winter. It is said to be more common in the southern part of the 

 San Joaquin Yalley. 



*^193. Anas boschas, (Linu.). — Mallard; Green-head. 



The Mallard is a common constant resident of the valleys, and a few 

 breed in the lakes of the Upper Sierras. It is sometimes abundant in 



* "Squawlcing Goose. Earely grows any larger." 



