EOSS SNOW GOOSE 215 



of the hunter aiul the increased efficiency of firearms has so far over- 

 balanced the natural protection thus afforded that the birds are now 

 actually threatened with extinction. Unless the protection now 

 furnished proves adequate in the very near future, this state, which 

 at one time appeared to have an inexhaustible supply of geese, will 

 have entirely lost this valuable game resource. 



There is no reason why, with proper regard for the natural rate 

 of increase, a certain toll might not be levied annually on the influx 

 of geese from the far north. In their summei" home they are doubtless 

 largely free from human interference, so that the winter resort, which 

 •with snow geese lies chiefly within our own. state, constitutes the 

 critical area. It is in such cases as this that we are most favorably 

 situated for putting into effect a system of regulation upon a sound 

 economic and biological basis, so that we will secure the maximum 

 returns. 



Ross Snow Goose 



Chen rossi (Cassin) 



Other names — China Goose; Anser rossi. 



Description — Adults, both sexes: Entire plumage snowy white except for 

 primary flight feathers and their coverts; primaries black, becoming ashy 

 basally; primary coverts gray, with dusky shafts; bill "dull reddish," nail 

 "white" (Baird, Brewer and Kidgway, 1884, I, p. 444), basal portion of upper 

 mandible often wrinkled and warty; feet "dull reddish" (Baird, Brewer and 

 Ridgway, loc. cit.). Total length (both sexes) "20.00-26.00" inches (580-660 

 mm.) (Ridgway, 1900, p. 115). Males: folded wing 13.60-15.00 (345-381); 

 bill along culmen 1.43-1.66 (36.3-42.2); tarsus 2.57-2.87 (65.2-72.8) (seven 

 specimens). Females: folded wing 13.35-14.45 (339-367); bill along culmen 

 1.42-1.55 (36.1-39.3); tarsus 2.38-2.68 (60.4-68.0) (nine specimens); all from 

 California. Juvenile plumape: White, tinged with grayish on head and fore- 

 back; wing as in adult but secondaries with blackish centers; bill and feet 

 "<lusky" (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, loc. cit.). Natal plumage: Not known. 



Marks for field identification — Small size for a goose (but little larger 

 than a Mallard), white plumage relieved by black primaries, and reddish bill 

 and feet. Distinguished from Lesser Snow Goose by smaller size (about half 

 the bulk of that species), and by much shorter bill, which is also more cor- 

 rugated on surface and lacks broad black area between edges of closed mandibles 

 (compare figs. 30 and 31). 



Voice — Resembles that of the Cackling Goose (Belding, MS). 



Nest and eggs — Unknown. 



General distribution — Western North America. Breeding range unknown 

 but probably north of Mackenzie, Canada; winters in California. In migration 

 occurs from Kent Peninsula, and Anderson River, on Arctic coast of Canada, 

 south to Manitoba and Oregon (modified from A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 84). 



Distribution in California — Abundant winter visitant; most numerous in 

 Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley and about Los Angeles. Southernmost record 

 station: Newport, Orange County (Daggett, 1901a, p. 15). 



