70 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Key to California Game Birds — (Continued) 



PAGE 

 5. Larger; wing of male more than 10.00 inches (254 mm.) long, 

 of female more than 9.00 (228 mm.) ; no reddish brown 

 band on breast of male; nostril (both sexes) nearer middle 

 of bill than base of bill (figs. 5 and 6). 



American Merganser 79 

 5'. Smaller; wing of male less than 10.00 inches (254 mm.) long, 

 of female less than 9.00 (228 mm.); breast of male crossed 

 by a broad reddish brown band; nostril (both sexes) 

 nearer base of bill than middle of bill (figs. 7 and 8). 



Eed-breasted Merganser 84 

 4'. "Teeth" blunt and not inclined backward; wing less than 8.00 

 inches (203 mm.) long; head of male with a large erect, 

 compressed, black and white crest. Hooded Merganser 89 



3'. Bill never as much as three times as long as height at base; the 

 sides of lower mandible cross-ridged or fluted (figs. 9 and 39). 

 6. Wing more than 12.00 inches (305 mm.) long; tarsus longer 

 than middle toe without claw (shorter in Canada Goose). 

 7. Plumage chiefly white (grayish in immatures), some- 

 times stained with rusty. 

 8. Larger; bill more than 1.75 inches (44 mm.) long; the 

 margins of the two mandibles widely separated 

 and a large black area showing between them (fig. 

 30). Lesser Snow Goose 210 



8'. Smaller; bill less than 1.75 inches (44 mm.) long; 

 margins of the two mandibles almost meeting, no 

 large black area between them (fig. 31). 



Ross Snow Goose 215 

 7'. Plumage various, never predominantly white. 

 9. Bill and feet never wholly black. 



10. Top of head and hind neck never white though 

 area around base of bill usually white; breast 

 usually marked irregularly with black. 



American White-fronted Goose 218 

 10'. Top of head and hind neck white; breast bluish 



ash, with regular dark bars. Emperor Goose 243 

 9'. Bill and feet entirely black. 



11. Broad band across cheeks and throat white 

 (sometimes interrupted on throat). 

 12. Large; bill 1.88-2.31 inches (47.7-58.6 mm.) 

 long; tarsus usually shorter than middle 

 toe and claw (figs. 32 and 35). 



Canada Goose 222 

 12'. Medium; bill 1.37-1.80 inches (34.8-45.7 mm.) ; 

 tarsus about as long as middle toe and claw 

 (figs. 33 and 36). Hutchins Goose 230 



12". Small; bill 1.04-1.44 inches (26.4-36.6 mm.); 

 tarsus much longer than middle toe and 

 claw (figs. 34 and 37). Cackling Goose 234 



