122 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Branta canadensis hutchinsii (S\v. A: Rich.) 



HUTCHINS'S GOOSE. 



Popular synonyms. Lesser Canada Goose; Small Gray Goose; Little Wild Goose; Eskimo 

 Gooso; Mud Goose (Long Island); Marsh Goose (North CaroUna): Prairie Gooso; 

 Bay Goose (Texas). 

 Anas bernicla, var. 5. EiCH. App. Parry's Voy. 368. 



Anser hutchinsiiS-w. &EiCH. F. B.-A, ii. 1S31. 470.— Nutt. Man. ii. 1S34, 362.— Aud. Orn. 

 Biog. ili, 1835.226, pi. 277; Synop. 18311,271; B. Am. vi, 1813, 198, jl. 377-. 

 Bernicla hutchinsii'WoosJi.iiiter. Exp. 1853. 102.— Baied, B. N. Am. 1858, pp.xlLX.766: 



Cat. N. Am. B. 185',), No. 509. 

 Branta hutchinsii Bannist. Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1870, 131.— KrOGW. Orn. 10th 



Par. 1877,620. 

 Branta canadensis, var. hutchinsii CoUES, Key, 1872, 284; Cheek List, 1873, No, 485i. 

 Branta canadensis, c. hutchinsii CotJES, B .N. W. 1874, 554. 

 Bernicla canadensis hutchinsii, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii, 1880, 203; Norn. N. 



Am. B. 1881, No. 591a.— CouES, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 704. 

 Bernicla canadensis y. hutchinsi B. B. & B. Water B. N. Am. i, 1884, 455, 458. 

 Branta canadensis hutchinsii k.O. V. Check List, 188G, No, ITJn.— Ridgw. Man. N. 

 Am. B. 1887, 117. 

 Anser leuooiiareius Beandt, Bull. Se. Ac. St. Petorsb. i, 1836, 37. 



Hab. North America in general, breeding in the Arctic districts, and migrating south 

 in winter, chiefly through the western United States and Mississippi Valley; northeastern 

 Asia. 



. SuBSP. Chae. Exactly like B. canadensis in plumage, but considerably smaller, and 

 tail-feathers usually 14 or 16. Total length about 25.00-35.00 inches; wing, 14.75-17.75; culmen, 

 1.20-1.90; tarsus, 2.25-3.20. 



In a larf^e series of specimens, the following variations are 

 noted: The ashy beneath varies from a pale tint of canadensis 

 to the dark shades of mmima and occidcntalin, but is usually 

 about intermediate between the two extremes; the white collar 

 round the neck, at the lower edge of the black, is seen only in 

 autumnal or winter specimens. The white of the head is usually 

 uninterru])ted on the throat, even in veiy dark-plumaged ex- 

 . amples, but occasionally is separated into two patches by a black 

 throat-stripe, as in minima, and occidfiitalis, the plumage other- 

 wise being light colored. 



This small form of the Canada (ioose is abundant in IlUnois 

 during its migrations, and has little to distinguish it from the 

 larger kind be^HJiid its smaller size, jiroportioually smaller bill, 

 and the possession, ordinarily, of fewer ta.il-feathers (one ^r two 

 pairs less). 



