832 THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. 



No. 335. 



WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. 



A. O. U. No. 172 b. Branta canadensis occidentalis (llaircl). 



Synonyms. — Lakc,i-;k \\'hiti->chi-:i':ki:i) (hhisi:. Pacific Goose. Wkstkk.n' 

 Caxaha r.niisi:. HoXKKR. 



Description. — Similar to B. caiunh'iisis. hut culoraticni darker, especial!}' on 

 uiulerparts. — deep grayish hrown ahruptly defined against white of crissuni : 

 white half-collar at base of black on neck usually more distinct; white cheek- 

 patches usually separate<l by black stripe, or at least Idack mottling, (in central 

 line of throat — shading into type by insensible gradations. Length about 35.00 

 (889) : wing 16.50-18.00 (419. 1-457. 2) : bill '-^^ (40.6) ; tarsus 3.20 (81.3). 



Recognition Marks. — .\s in B. canadensis : darker. 



General Range. — I'acific Coast district, brceiling from l'>ritish Columliia to 

 Sitka: south in winter to California. 



Range in Washington. — Xot cnnimon winter resident and migrant on 

 Puget v'^ound : relatix'e abundance as comijarcd with B. cajiadciisis undetermined. 



Authorities. — Bcniicia Icucoj^arcia Cassin : also B. occidentalis (proposed) 

 Baird. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 18^8, p. 766. C&S. Rh. D' ^ Kk. 

 P.. E(H). 



ON the strength uf a group of (loniesticated geese raised from eggs 

 found on an island in the Okanogan Rixer, I have numerously reported^ the 

 Canada Geese of Okanogan County as belonging to this subspecies. It may 

 be that they do, but in the ^absence of s|)eciniens T ]irefer to regard all East- 

 side birds as |)resumpti\e ctuunlensis and tn restrict ncciileiitalis to the north- 

 west coast district, which it exclusi\elv occupies in summer. 



Previous to the complete occupation of the Puget Sound region by the 

 white man. Geese nested to some extent on the shores of the prairie lakes 

 in Pierce Count v and elsewhere. There are no recent records, however, and 

 the White-ciTeeked Goose of today would a])pear to lie linu'teil to the northern 

 portion of its breeding range in British Columbia. This "sattu^ated" form is 

 not slrnnglv established, and it nia\' be onh' a fpiestinn of lime Ix'fore its 

 ultimate disa|)]iea ranee. 



a. Auk, \'ol. XI\'., -Apr. 1897. p. 17J. etc. 



