DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 67 



has seen the spring flight, which, he has been told, extends from 

 the coast inland two hundred and fifty to three hundred miles. Mr. 

 A. M. Shields states that the white-fronted is the goose usually seen 

 in the Los Angeles game market, being most easily secured by the 

 pot-hunters. 



GENUS BBANTA. 



General Characters. Bill and feet black at all ages ; both sexes and 

 young alike ; neck long and slender ; head and neck black, with white on 

 cheeks, or else white collar ; body mainly gray. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 

 1. Cheeks white. 

 2. White of cheeks continuous under throat. 



3. Length 35-43 canadensis, p. 67. 



3'. Length 25-34 hutchinsii, p. 68. 



2'. White of cheeks separated by black of throat. 



3. Wing 16.25-18.00 occidentalis, p. 68. 



3'. Wing 13.60-14.50 minima, p. 68. 



V. Cheeks black, collar white nigricans, p. 68. 



172. Branta canadensis (Linn.). CANADA GOOSE. 



Head and neck black except for broad white band across throat and 

 cheeks ; body deep gray, feathers 

 tipped with lighter ; rump, tail, 

 and quills black ; upper and 

 lower tail coverts, and ventral 

 region, white. Length : 3543, 

 wing 15.60-21.00, bill 1.55-2.70. 



Distribution. North Amer- 

 ica, breeding from the northern 

 United States to Labrador and 

 the lower Mackenzie ; south in 

 winter to Mexico. 



Nest. Usually on low mound 

 in marsh, made of grass and 

 leaves, lined with down. Re- 

 ported also in old nests of Fig. 82. 

 hawks and eagles, in trees. Eggs : 6 to 7, dull white. 



Few wild bird notes are more inspiring than the honk, honk, Jia 

 wank, honk, of a long line of Canada geese flying with apparent de- 

 liberation but with really terrific speed overhead, calling as they go 

 in notes that carry for a mile over marsh, lake, and prairie. The 

 big strong wings whish loudly overhead far out of shotgun range, 

 and often a low conversational gabble can be heard under the loud 

 honking. Pew of our game birds, by intelligent caution and watch- 

 fulness, have withstood so successfully the deep laid schemes and 

 murderous devices of pot-hunters and sportsmen as this noble, spir- 

 ited bird. The widest expanse of water, marsh, or prairie is sought 

 for the day's feeding and resting ground, and the country surveyed 



