ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OF IOWA. 185 



part of March or first of April, and again in November, frequently 

 alighting to feed in stubble-fields and corn-fields. They are usu- 

 ally seen in large flocks and, may be recognized by the white fore- 

 head and whitish breast marked with black blotches. From the 

 reports of observers the species appears to be more abundant in 

 the northern part of the state and along the Missouri River than 

 it is on the Mississippi. The Talbot collection in the University 

 museum contains several specimens from Whiting, Iowa, which 

 are very variable in the shade of upper parts and black spotting 

 on belly. There are also two specimens from Burlington, col- 

 lected by Paul Bartsch. 



Genus Branta Scopoli. 

 60. (172). Branta canadoisis (Linn.). Canada Goose. 



The Canada Goose is the species commonly and popularly 

 known as the "Wild Goose." It is the only Goose which is 

 known to have nested in Iowa. Before the general settlement of 

 the state the Canada Goose nested quite commonly in various 

 parts of the state and a few pairs still linger throughout the sum- 

 mer in localities which are not too thickly settled. Eggs have 

 frequently been taken, hatched under domestic fowls, and the 

 young domesticated. I have seen specimens reared in this man- 

 ner which became as tame as the domestic goose. In Forrst and 

 Stream (viii, 12, 177) there is an account of the domestication of 

 the Canada Goose at Benson Grove, Winnebago county, Iowa. 

 The University museum has a specimen. No. 9038, hybrid between 

 the Common Goose and Canada Goose, bred by D. H. Talbot of 

 Sioux City. The bod}^ is like that of the Canada Goose; fore- 

 head, lores, cheeks, and throat white; front of neck mottled, back 

 of neck from center of head black, with a few white feathers; 

 received Nov. 2, 1892. 



The earliest Iowa record is probably that of Lewis and Clarke 

 (Coues, Hist, of L. and C. Exp., i, 49): " Great quantities of 

 young geese were seen today" (Fremont county, Iowa, a little 

 above present site of Nebraska City, Neb.). "July 31 — the hunt- 

 ers supplied us with deer, turkeys, geese, and beaver" (north of 

 Boyer's Creek). Thomas Say (Eong's Exp., i, 266-70) noted 

 Canada Geese at Engineers' Cantonment, "flying to the north, 

 Feb. 21, 1820." Prince Maximilian, (Reise, i, 282) says: "Auch 



