LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS 



172. Canada Goose. Branta canadensis 



canadensis. 



Range. — The whole of North America, breeding 

 from northern United States northward, and win- 

 tering in the southern parts of the United States. 



This species is the most widely known of Amer- 

 ican Geese and is the most abundant. Its familiar 

 "honk" has long been regarded as the signal of 

 the coming of spring, and the familiar V-shaped 

 formation in which the Hocks migrate is always 

 an object of interesl to everyone. With the ex- 

 ception of in North Dakota and Minnesota, they 

 breed chiefly north of the United States. They 

 construct quite a large nest of weeds and grass, 

 and warmly line it with down and feather-. 

 They lay from four to nine eggs of a buff or drab 

 color. Size about 3.50 x 2.50. Data. — -Ellingsars 

 Lake. North Dakota, May 18, 1896. Five eggs. 

 Nest on an island in the lake, constructed of 

 weeds and trash, and lined with a few feathers. 

 Collector. Edwin S. Bryant. 



lT'-'a. Hutchins Goose. Jlranta canadensis 

 lint eh in si. 



This sub-species is like the preceding except 

 that it is smaller, thirty inches in length. It is 

 a western variety, breeding in Alaska and along 

 the Arctic coast and wintering to southern Cali- 

 fornia. Its breeding habits, nests and eggs are 

 the same as the common goose e\c.pt that the 

 eggs are smaller. Sibe 3.00 x H.05. 



White-* heeked Goose. 

 densis occidentalis. 



lira nt a can a 



Lda Gi 



1 •;.. kin, 



This bird is about the same size as the Canada 

 (loose and the plumage is very similar excepl 

 that the black sometimes extends <m the throat, 

 thereby isolating the white cheek patches, and 

 there is a white collar below the bach of the neck, it is a western species, 

 breeding in Alaska and wintering along the Pacific coasl of the United States. 

 Its nesting habits and eg.^s are same as those of the Canada (loose except that 

 t he latter are a t rifle smaller. 



172c. Cackling Goose. Branta canadensis minima. 

 This bird is really a miniature of the Canada Goose, being but twenty-four 



Inches in length. It breeds in Alaska and ahum the Arctic coast and migrates 



into the western parts of the United states. They are abundanl birds in their 

 breeding range, where the) place their nests upon the shores of ponds, or on 



islands in inland rivers or lakes. The nests are made of weed-, and grasses, 

 lined with down. The e^s which are hull' colored, number from lour to nine 



and are laid during June ami July. Size 2.30 x L.96 



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