Goose-shooting 239 



The hybrids with domestic geese are common 

 and supposed to be a superior market bird. 

 While hunted relentlessly from the breeding- 

 ground to the winter home, the cunning of the 

 wild goose has stood him well, and it is a pleasant 

 thought to feel that, perhaps, one member of our 

 family of water-fowl holds his own. 



HUTCHINS GOOSE 

 (^Branta canadensis hutchinsii) 



Similar to the Canada goose in plumage, but smaller in size. Tail 

 of 14 to 16 feathers ; in Canada goose, 1 8 to 20 feathers. 



Measurements — Length, 30 inches; wing, 16.25 inches; tail, 5 

 inches ; tarsus, 2.75 inches. 



Eggs — Six to eight in number, dull white, measure 3 by 2.05 

 inches. 



Habitat — Breeds from Hudson Bay and possibly British Columbia 

 north probably to Cumberland, the coasts and islands of the 

 Arctic near Fort Anderson and Kotzebue Sound, the Bering 

 Sea coast of Alaska, and on the Aleutian, Commander, and 

 Kuril islands. Winters from Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, and 

 British Columbia, south to Louisiana, Texas, California, San 

 Quentin Bay, Lower California, Arizona, and doubtless Mexico. 

 In the migrations, very rare east of the Mississippi Valley, but 

 recorded from Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Maine, 

 Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and North 

 Carolina. Recorded also from Japan. 



While resembling the Canada goose in plu- 

 mage, the Hutchins' goose is readily distinguished 

 by its size and by the different character of the 

 note. As a rule the bird is less wary. 



On the eastern coast specimens of the Hutchins' 



