100 Figgins, Races of Branta canadensis. [j" n- 



ing the black throat stripe and those surrounding the white area 

 of the cheeks proves that more than two-thirds of their basal 

 length are white, and in summer specimens they are much shorter 

 than in fall and winter birds. The gradual and finally complete 

 elimination of such markings may, therefore, be assigned to wear 

 and their absence or presence considered as an index to season, 

 rather than to ^ubspecific variation. 



The majority of the specimens examined were received in the 

 flesh, or merely roughed out. These prove that there is a con- 

 tinuous body and upper chest molt during the fall and winter 

 months. By early April the dark or mottled underparts have dis- 

 appeared and the transition to the white of the anal region is very 

 gradual. Of seven specimens in breeding plumage, none show a 

 trace of the white collar. 



All of the specimens examined have a white spot below the eye, 

 varying to some extent, but always present. Others have a few 

 scattered white feathers above the eyes, being in two examples 

 sufficiently numerous to suggest a band of mottling across the crown. 

 One very large male exhibits an unbroken oval spot of white on 

 either side of the crown, immediately over the eyes, not less than 

 .25 by .50 in extent. 



While it would appear to be shown that the dark under parts, 

 black throat-stripe and white half-collar credited to the other 

 subspecific forms also occur in canadensis, they are probably never so 

 pronounced as in minima, unless the latter happens to be a light 

 hybrid, similar to the type of occidentalis. 



Finally, it is pertinent to inquire if the variations in markings 

 and color noted above occur in other species of geese. In Chen 

 casrulcscens it is found that there are far greater differences in the 

 markings about the neck and under parts than are shown by a com- 

 parison of canadensis and minima; and as in Swarth's comparison 

 of the measurements of tarsi in Branta, it so happens that the 

 tarsus of the smallest of five specimens exceeds by a full quarter 

 of an inch that of the largest. One example shows the under parts, 

 including the basal third of the neck and entire under tail-coverts 

 to be a dark brownish gray or grayish brown, all the feathers being 

 edged with tawny. The ordinary sooty color of the lower neck and 

 chest is absent with the exception of a few scattered feathers at the 



