ANATID.15— THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 123 



Branta canadensis minima Ridgw. 



CACKLING OCfOSE. 



Popular synonyms. Littlo Oa<'kliDK Goobo; Little White-cheeked Goose; Chornie Goose 



(Prybilov If^lands). 

 JSemicla letunjjareia Cass. Illustr. B. Cal. Tex., etc., 1853, 272. pi. 4.'i, noc Anser lencnpareius 

 Bbandt. (Cahfoinia.) 

 Branta canadensis var. leurnpareia CouES, in Elliott's "Aflfairs in Alaska," 1875, 190; not 



of Key, 1S?2. p. 284, which = B. occidentalis Uaibd. (Prybilov Islands.) 

 Bernicla canadensis leucopareia Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 5946.— CouBS, 2d 



Check List. 1882, No. 70.'5: 2d Key. 1S84. No. G89. 

 Bernicla canadensis, 6. leucopareia B. B. & K. Water B. N. Am. i, 1884, 456, 459. 

 Branta hutchinsi, (i. leucnparia RiDOW. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. i, 1878. 445. (Stockton. Cal.) 

 Branta canadensis, b. leucopareia CoOES, B. N. W. 1874, .554. 

 Branta minima RiDOW. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii, Apr. 20, 188-5, 23.— Stejn. Orn. Expl. 

 Kamtsch. 1885, 147 (in text). 

 Branta canadensis minirna Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii, 1885, 355; Man. N. Am. B. 

 1887. 117.— TnBNEB. Contr. Nat. Hist. Alaska, 1886, 139 (habits).— A. 0. U. Check List, 

 1887, No. 172r.— Nelson, Hop. Nat. Hist. Alaska, 18X7, 86 (h.abits). 

 Branta canadensis Elliott. Monoe. Seal Islands, 1H82, 130. 



Hab. Pacific coast of North America, breeding abundantly about the Yukon delta and 

 contiifuouB shores of Norton Sound, and migrating south in winter to California; occasional 

 miftrant to Mississippi Valley (Wisconsin, Michlean, Illinois, etc.). 



SuBSP. Chab. Similar to /*. canadensis occidentalis, Baird, but very much smaller. 

 Differing from B. canadensis hulchinsii in smaller size, especially the bill, and much 

 darker coloration. White cheek-patches usually separated by a black stripe or spotting on 

 the throat, and lower part of nock encircled by a more or less distinct white collar. Lower 

 parts dark grayish brown, abruptly defined against the white of the anal region. Total 

 length, about 22. 00-25. 00 inches; wing, 13.t;o-14..50: .ulmen, 0.95-].a5; depth of bill at base. .60- 

 .75; width, .52-.60; tarsus. 2. 10-2.75; middle toe. l.'.io-2.30; tail-feathers, 14 or 16. Adult (No. 

 i*,526, male ad.. St. Paul's Island, Alaska. May 14, 1X72: H. W. Elliott). Tlu-oat with a black 

 "isthmus" .75 of an inch broad, separating widely the white cheek- patches. A distinct white 

 collar between the black of the neck and dark brownish gray of tho chost, this about .75 of 

 an Inch wide In front, and extending completely around, though much narrower, and some- 

 what interrupted, behind. Lower parts dark brownish gray, abruptly defined against tho 

 white of tho erissum. Wing, 14.25 inches: culmon,1.30; depth of maxilla at base, .75; width, 

 .65; tarsus, 2.55; middle toe, 2.30; tail-feathers. 14. 



Other specimens in the collection are chlcfiy in summer plumage, having paler lower 

 parts and less conspicuous white collar: but nearly all have the two cheek-patches com- 

 pletely separated by a broad black Isthmus on tho throat. 



With only two exceptions, the Biiecimens are from tho Pacific coast, chiefly the northern 

 portion. 



Young (No. 9,956. North Red River, Manitoba, Seotomber: U. Konnicott). Much like tho 

 adult, but the black of tho ni'ck fades gradually into the smoky gray of the chost, with- 

 out being Separated by tho usual white collar; tho white cheek-patches are thickly, though 

 minutely, siieckled with black; the feathers of tho lower parts, and also tho upper tail- 

 coverts, have blackish shafts. It measures as follows: Wing, 13.70: eulmen, 1.25: tarsus. 

 2.60; middle toe, 2.10. 



