THE HUTCHINS GOOSE. 



829 



a musk-rat's house, and an island was pointed out to us where eighteen pairs 

 had nested in a sort of loose colony the previous season. In June, 1896, while 

 riding near Oroville, I came upon two large Osprey's nests placed at a great 

 height in cottonwood trees near the Okanogan River. The Ospreys were in 

 possession at the time, but Mr. James Johnston, a farmer sportsman living in 

 the vicinity, informed me that earlier the same season two pairs of Canada 



Geese had successful- ^ ^^_ 



ly reared their broods 

 in the same nests. 



The sitting Goom- 

 remains at her po^t 

 for four weeks antl 

 she is attended by the 

 gander who maintains 

 a constant vigil at her 

 side and accompanies 

 her during the forag- 

 ing trips. The gos- 

 lings, when hatched, 

 are co\'ered w i t h 

 down of a bright 

 grass green hue mot- 

 tled with a shade of 



olive. They swim, from the shell : and by the second or third da_\- they have 

 attained such robustness that their capture by hand from a boat is a very diffi- 

 cult matter. Hiding is the long suit of the mother Goose when in charge of a 

 tender brood; and if surprised at such a time in open water she manages to 

 "scootch" down and hug her feathers close until she does not appear above 

 one-third her normal size. If the ruse is discovered she flees reluctantly and 

 summons her mate who joins his anxious cries with hers. H ouka-honka-houka! 



Taken on Moses Lake. 



Photo by the Autlwrs. 



A PLUCKY GOSLING. 



Tins DUBIOUS SNAP-SHOT WAS OBTAINED ONLY AFTER A TWO-MILE CHASE. 



No. 334. 



HUTCHINS'S GOOSE. 



A. O. U. Xo. 172a. Branta canadensis hutchinsii (Rich. I. 



Synonyms. — Lesser C-\N.\n.\ GoosE. Little \\'ild Goose. Gray Brant. 



Description. — Precisely similar to preceding species in coloration, but averag- 

 ing smaller; tail normally i6-feathered. Length 25.00-34.00 (635-863.6); wing 

 17.00 (431.8) ; tail 6.00 ( 152.4) : bill 1.75 (44.5) : tarsus 3.00 (76.2). 



