CANADA GOOSE. 149 



them, and brings up the rear. 'The little family remain 

 together till the return of the flock, when all mix promis- 

 cuously, recruit themselves for a few days, and then depart.' 

 The female sits very close, and rarely leaves the nest. The 

 pair are believed to unite for life. 



Male; weight, about nine pounds. The largest of the two 

 mentioned above as having been shot in Yorkshire, weighed 

 ten pounds and a half. Length, three feet five or six inches; 

 bill, black; iris, very dark brown. Head on the crown, 

 black, with purple reflections; neck behind, black, tinged with 

 purple; chin and throat, white, which colour extends upwards 

 and backwards, somewhat after the fashion of a cravat, 

 whence one of the names of the bird. It reaches nearly to 

 the other side of the top of the neck; breast above, "pale 

 greyish brown; below, white; on the sides pale brown, the 

 edges of the feathers still paler; back above, brown; below, 

 dusky black. 



Greater and lesser wing coverts, brown, the edges paler; 

 primaries, dusky black; secondaries, brown, with lighter 

 coloured edges; tertiaries, also brown; the edges of a lighter 

 colour. Tail, dusky black; upper tail coverts, white; legs, 

 toes, and webs, dark lead-colour or bluish black. 



These birds begin to moult in July. 



The females are somewhat less in size than the males. 



