7G4: U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



Comparative measurements of species. 



BEENICLA CANADENSIS, Boie, 



Canada Goose. 



Anas amademis, Linn. Syut. Nat. I, 1760, 198.— Forster, Phil. Traus. LXII, 1772, 383. — Wils. Am. Oru. VIII, 



1814,52; pi. Ivii. 

 Anser canadensis, Vikill. Nnuv. Diet. — Sw. &, Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 468. — Nutt. Man. II, 349. — Aud. Orn. 



Biog. Ill, le35, 1 : V, 007 ; pi. 'illl.— Iii. .S)U. 270.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1S43, 178; pi. 376. 

 Cijgnm canadensis, Stepii. Sliaw's ZckpI. XII, ii, 18'24, ID. 

 Bernicla catiadtnsia, BoiE, Isis, 18'2(), '.t^l. 

 ? Anser parvijjes, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Se. VI, Oct. 1852, 188. (Vora Cruz.) 



Sp. Ch. — Tail of eighteen feathers. Head, necli, bill, and feet, deep blaek. A large triangular patch (if white on the cheeks 

 behind the eye; the two of iipposite sides broadly confluent beneath, but not extending to the rami of lower jaw; a few whitish 

 feathers on lower eyelid. Upper parts brown, edged with paler. Under parts liglit, with a tinge of purple gray, sometimes a 

 shade of smoky brown ; the edges of the feathers paler; the color of the body of the feathers, though similar, becoming deeper 

 on the fides, tibia, a-xillars, and inside of wings. The gray of the belly passes gradually into white on the anal region and 

 yoder covens; the upper tail coverts ai'e pure white. The priiiiniy c|uills and rump aro very dark blacki.-sh brown ; the tail 

 fealhers are black. Lengtli, 35 ; wing, l'^; tarsus, 3.10; coiumissure, 2. 10. 



Hah. — Whole of Ncjrtli America. Accidental in Europe. 



In comj)aring quite a large ficries of Caiiiula geese together, I have found very great 

 discrt}mncies in tliuieusious, us will be suflieieutly evident from the table of measurements. I 

 find ahiiost every size between wide extremes, with great variations in size and inoiiortions of 

 the bill, as well ii.s iiiucii difference in tlie .•-haile uml tuiitinnity of color. In several instances 



