NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 81 



in number. Dr. Merrill says : " When these geese nest among the 

 branches of a tree I do not think they ever construct the nest entirely 

 themselves, but take possession of a deserted nest of the Fish Hawk, 

 and repair it with twigs and a lining of down. They have been seen 

 to carry small sticks to the nest for this purpose." * The color of the 

 eggs is a pale dull greenish, and their size is about 3.50 x 2.50. 



172a. Branta canadensis hutchinsii (Sw. & Rich.). [s94«-] 



Hutchins's Goose. 



Hab. North America, breeding in the Arctic regions, migrating south in winter, chiefly through 

 the Western United States and Mississippi Valley; Eastern Asia. 



This bird, which is like canadefisis in color, but of smaller size, 

 breeds in boreal regions. Its general habits are the same as those of 

 the common Canada Goose. Breeds abundantly along the Yukon 

 River and on the islands on the coast of Alaska. Nests have been 

 found on the Islands of the Anderson River and on the Arctic coast. 

 In these regions eggs of this species have been taken from Hawks' 

 and Crows' nests built in trees. It nests usually on sand-beaches, 

 depositing from four to six eggs in hollows in which there are more 

 or less leaves, grasses, feathers and down. 



The eggs are white, and measure 3.18x2.10. In the Arctic re- 

 gions the eggs are laid in June and July. 



ll^c. Branta canadensis minima Ridgw. [594'^.] 



Cackling Goose. 



Hab. Coast of Alaska, migrating southward into Western United States east to Wisconsin. 



A smaller bird than Hutchins's Goose. It is abundant in North- 

 ern Alaska, where it breeds, chiefly, however, about the shores of Nor- 

 ton Sound and along the Ivower Yukon, nesting like the foregoing. 



Its eggs measure 3.02x2.00. 



173. Branta bemicla (Linn.) [595.] 



Brant. 



Hab. Northern portions of the Northern Hemisphere; in North America chiefly on the Atlantic 

 coast, rare in the interior or away from salt water. 



The Brant Goose is almost cosmopolitan in its distribution. It is 

 found on the sea coasts of Europe and eastern North America, breed- 

 ing only within the Arctic circle. While being more maritime than 

 United States geese generally are, it is also found inland occasionally 

 on lakes and rivers. During the migrations it is abundant, and seems 

 to prefer the coast to the interior, seldom passing over large tracts of 

 land, following the windings of the shore, and nearly always keeping 



* Bull. Nutt. Club. Vol. VIII pp. 124-125. 



