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FAMILY ANATINiE. 



DUCKS. 



GENUS ANSER — BRISS 



GOOSE. 



[In this class of Birds, the bill is shorter than the head, rather higher than 

 broad at the base ; bead small, compressed ; neck long and slender ; body full-; 

 feet short, stout, and central, which enables them to walk with ease ; wings 

 long ; tail short, rounded.] 



ANSER CANADENSIS— LINN, 

 CANADA GOOSE. 



Canada Goose, Anas Canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Anser Canadensis, Bonap. Syn. 



Anser Canadensis, Canada Goose, Sw. & Rich. 



Canada Goose, Nutt. Man. 



Canada Goose, Anser Canadensis, And. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Length of bill from the corner of the mouth 

 to the end two inches and three sixteenths ; length of tarsi two 

 inches and seven-eighths ; length from the point of the bill to the 

 end of the tail about forty inches, wing eighteen ; the head and 

 greater portion of the neck black ; cheeks and throat white. 

 Adult with the head, greater part of the neck, primaries, rump and 

 tail, black ; back and wings brown, margined with paler brown ; 

 Irwer part of the neck and under plumage whitish-gray ; flanks 

 darker gray; cheeks and throat white, as are the upper and under 

 tail coverts. The plumage of the female rather duller. 



Late in autumn, especially when the wind is from the northeast, 

 the Canada Geese are seen in our section of country, sailing high 

 in the air, making their accustomed tour at that season. Impelled 

 by Nature they quit their northern abode and hazard an escape from 

 the artifices of man sooner than perish amid the icy barrens of the 

 frozen regions. When migrating many flocks unite and form a 

 vast column, each band having its chosen leader. They generally 

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