270 Phillips, Autumn Migration of the Canada Goose. [jiiiy 



due either to a very strong interdependence of the flock, or to utter 

 stupidity, and we can scarcely credit it entirely to the latter. Al- 

 though geese are so very shy at home, they will at times light in the 

 most astonishing places. At Wenham, geese have lit in a flooded 

 orchard in the spring in answ^er to a few honks from captive geese, 

 and wild geese were twice caught in my breeding pens on a small 

 brook. They do not appear to pay any attention to buildings or 

 artificial stationary objects if they once make up their minds to 

 come to decoys, and in this way are wholly unlike their smaller 

 cousins, the ducks. 



In confinement geese are interesting pets and just fail to attain 

 the state of complete domestication. Under the ordinary condi- 

 tions of confinement, only a certain proportion mate and breed, 

 many remaining celebates to a green old age. 



Variation. — In regard to variation in the wild state, we notice 

 a great range in size, and a considerable difference in the whiteness 

 of the breast feathers. This last is not a difference due to age, as 

 old geese kept by me are almost perfectly gray underneath, others 

 close to pure white. 



A gander of one of my mated pairs showed a very distinct ruddy 

 tinge to the tips of the feathers of the upper back and sides, and this 

 peculiarity was passed on to his young, though to a lesser degree. 

 I have seen this variation several times in wild birds. 



One hears a great deal of talk among gunners in Massachusetts 

 about the late flight of white-bellied geese. These are supposed to 

 be shorter necked and whiter on the breast. I have seen flocks 

 consisting of probably a single family which were certainly white 

 and full feathered, but I imagine these are birds which hatched and 

 moulted early. It may be that a pair of birds showing less pigment 

 than the average will have young like themselves. 



Mr. J. W. Whealton of Chincoteague, Va., who has raised a great 

 many Canadian geese on that island, has been reported by Mr. 

 Beebe as believing in a distinct northern and southern race of geese, 

 though no definite reasons for this statement are given. The 

 northern race is supposed to be larger. 



It is hoped to continue observations at Oldham Pond for the next 

 five years which, when compared with or added to the present 

 records may be of some interest and significance. 



