PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 446 



Joaquin Eiver, comiug south with other Geese in the fall. It is said to 

 become very tame when winged, followmg its captor after being kept 

 a little while.— E. K.l 



771C3 — ad. Stockton market. 



Dec. —,1878 



189. Anser gambeli (Harthuib). — American White-fronted (ioose. 



The White-froute<l Goose was first seen at Stockton September 7, 

 1878, though rare until October. It is more abundant than any other 

 of the Geese which visit Califoraia, usually coming first and leaving last. 



Geese, in the aggregate, are very abundant in the valleys, and are in 

 some localities so destructive to young wheat that farmers resort to 

 various expedients to protect their grain from their ravages; among 

 others, that of hiring hunters to ride over their fields and drive them 

 away. 



76651 — .1(1. Stockton? Head only. 



190. Branta canadensis, (Linu.). — Canada Goose. 



This species usually arrives and depaits at about the same time as the 

 Anser gambeli. Toward the middle of JMarch, when hunting in the foot- 

 hills, sometimes not fai* below the snow-line, on pleasant sunny morn- 

 ings, flocks of ''Honkers" have often been seen, high above the hills, 

 going toward the siunmit of the mountains, probably on their way to 

 the valleys and lakes east of the SieiTa Nevada. 



76048 — .id. 1 Stockton ? 



191. Branta hutchinsi, /3. leucoparia, (Brandt). — White-cheeked Goose. 



[In regard to this species, Mr. Belding writes: — "I send head and 

 wing of a 'brant,' which I cannot match with any of the descriptions in 

 vol. ix. Pacific E. E. Eeports. You must be well acquainted with it, as 

 it is abundant in California in winter. It is by some called the 

 ' Squawking Goose.' Tail-feathers 16."— E. E.] 



76650 

 76649 



— ad. Stockton. 



— ad. do .. 



Dec.— ,1878 



Head only. 



Head, wing, and tail.' 



192. Dendrocygna fulva, (Gm.). — Fulvous Tree Duck. 



This Duck is rarely seen in the interior at or north of Stockton. I 

 have seen one in market here; also a fine specimen shot at MarysviUe 

 last winter. It is said to be more common in the southern part of the 

 San »Ioa(juin Valley. 



^193. Anas boschan, {L'mi:.).— Mallard; Green-head. 



The Mallard is a common constant resident ol' the valleys, and a few 

 breed in the lakes of the Upper Sierras. It is sometimes abundant in 



" "Squawlving Goose. Ran-ly <5iow.s any larger." 



