1912 BIRDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 21 



This goose, in company with other species, feeds in large numbers on the 

 grain fields and pasture lands, mostly at night, remaining out at sea during 

 the day. 



83. (170) Chen rossi (Cassin). Ross Goose. 



Occurs in winter in limited numbers in company with the last species. 

 South at least to Orange County. 1 have seen many of these birds in the 

 Los Angeles markets, brought in from the surrounding country. E. Davis 

 has found them fairly common in winter near Santa Ana, and F. S. Daggett 

 records a specimen taken by A. Fenyes near Newport. Orange County, No- 

 vember 10, 1900 (Condor in, 1901, 15). 



84. (171a) Anser albifrons gambeli Hartlaub. White-fronted Goose. 

 This goose, known to hunters as the "checker-breast," is a common winter 



visitant to suitable localities in the lowlands. According to L. Belding. it is 

 the first goose to arrive in California and the last to leave, appearing early 

 in September and remaining until the first part of May (Zoe in, 1892, 98). 

 The main body, however, does not put in its appearance until November, and 

 it leaves in April. 



85. (172) Branta canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus). Canada Goose. 

 According to the last A. O. XJ. Check-List, this species ranges south t<> 



southern California in winter. It is not nearly so common, however, as others 

 of the genus. J. Grinnell has a specimen taken near Los Angeles in winter, 

 and F. S. Daggett has found it not uncommon in winter at Bixby, Los Angeles 

 County. W. W. Cooke states that the Canada Goose is more common in the 

 interior of California than along the coast. He says further that it is about 

 the earliest water bird to migrate in the spring (I T . S. Biol. Surv. Bull. 26, 

 1906, 72). 



86. (172a) Branta canadensis hutchinsi (Richardson). Hutchins Goose. 

 Common winter visitant to the lower country. Arrives about the middle 



of October and remains generally until the middle of April. According to 



A. W. Anthony, this goose goes at least a hundred miles south of San Diego 



and is numerous in parts of San Diego County in winter (Belding, Zoe in, 

 1892, 99). 



87. (172b) Branta canadensis occidentalis (Baird). White-cheeked 

 Goose. 



Although the A. O. U. Check-List and other lists have repeatedly given 

 the range of this sub-species as "south to southern California in winter," 1 

 have yet to learn of a typical specimen being taken in this locality. There 

 seems to be need of a revision of this whole group by some one who has plenty 

 of material to work with. H. S. Swarth says: "I have examined hundreds 

 of geese in the California markets, but have yet to see a large goose with a 

 white half-collar at the base of the neck, and with a black line dividing the 

 white cheek patches, supposedly the distinguishing characters of this sub-species" 

 (Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. vn, 1911, 47). 



According to L. Belding, the White-cheeked Goose seldom arrives in cen- 



