236 BULLETIN 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



A night on which the sky is partly clouded and a light wind is blowing is 

 the best. If the air is calm and the night bright, the still water reflects too 

 strongly the outlines of the surrounding hills, making the water inky black, 

 and renders it impossible to distinguish a goose sitting on the water. 



At the time the geese are expected each person has selected his place and 

 remains quiet. On the approach of the first flock for the night a low whistle 

 from the hunter to his companions gives signal. A low hunk hunk of the geese 

 and a swirl of wings announce their approach. A straight dash or a few 

 circles round the pond and they settle. Shoot just as they alight and again 

 as they rise. Sometimes they become so confused as to enable the holder of a 

 breechloader to get four shots at a single flock. The dead geese serve as 

 decoys and soon many are added to those already killed. The gentle wind 

 slowly blows them ashore while you are waiting for others. In a short time a 

 suflicient number is obtained. At an appointed time another native comes from 

 the hut to help bear home the geese. 



Winter. — Cackling geeso are abundant winter residents in the in- 

 terior vallej'S of California, where they frequent the grain fields in 

 company with Hutchins, snow, Ross, and white-fronted geese. As 

 their habits are evidently similar, it is. unnecessary to repeat what 

 has already been written about the others. 



DISTRIBDTION 



Breeding range. — The Bering Sea coast of Alaska and the Aleu- 

 tian Islands. South to the north side of the Alaskan Peninsula 

 (Bristol Bay and Nushagak Eiver), West to the Avestern Aleutians 

 (Agattu and Attn Islands). North to Norton Sound (St. Michael), 

 probably Kotzebue Sound (Kowak River) and possibly as far as 

 Wainwright, where it has been taken in July. Iritergrades with 

 hutcfiinsi in northern and with oceidentalis in southern Alaska. 



Winter i^ange. — Western North America, west of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains from southern British Columbia to southern California (San 

 Diego County). 



Spring migration. — Arrives at St. Michael, Alaska, April 25 to 

 30. J^atest date of departure from California, Stockton, April 25. 

 Taken on St. Paul Island, Alaska, May 14. 



Fall migration. — Earliest date of arrival in California, Gridley,. 

 October 1. Late dates of departure in Alaska, Yukon Delta, October 

 1, Aleutian Islands, November 15; British Columbia, Okanogan, 

 November 20. 



Casual records. — Said to wander on migrations as far east as Wis- 

 consin and Colorado (Loveland, April 10, 1898), but identifications 

 are doubtful. 



Egg dates. — Alaska: Eighteen records. May 20 to June 30; nine 

 records June 5 to 15. 



