J14 GEESE 



ON THE WATER. The silvery-grey body, and the white head and hind neck 

 sharply contrasted against the black foreneck are the markings which identify the 

 Emperor. It is a medium-sized goose with a thick- 

 set build. The all-white neck of the Blue Goose will 

 distinguish that species. 



IN FLIGHT. Its all-grey body, relieved only by 

 the white head and tail, its short neck, heavy body 

 and rapid wing-beats readily identify it. Its flight 

 is like that of the Black Brant, but is less rapid 

 and agile. 



VOICE. Its note is shriller and different from 

 that of any other goose. In flight it utters a kla- 

 ha, kla-ha, kla-ha; when alarmed and rising from 

 the water, a deep, ringing u-lugh, u-lugh; when feed- 

 ing in flocks, they utter a variety of conversational 

 notes. 



LIFE STORY 



The Emperor Goose, "the handsomest and the least known of Ameri- 

 can geese, is confined to such narrow limits, both in its breeding range 

 and on its migrations, that it has been seen by fewer naturalists than any 

 other goose on our list. On the almost inaccessible, low, marshy shores of 

 Alaska, between the mouths of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, it for- 

 merly bred abundantly, but recent explorations in the region indicate 

 that it has been materially reduced in numbers .... The decrease is par- 

 tially, if not wholly, due to the fact that large numbers are killed every 

 year and their eggs taken by the natives, even within the limits of what 

 is supposed to be a reservation" (1 Bent, 1925). Stragglers are frequently 

 found on the western coast of America as far south as California, and 

 this essentially maritime goose has wandered as far south as Hawaii. 



Of their courtship Nelson (1913) says: "Almost at once after their 

 arrival .... the Emperor Geese appeared to be mated, the males walking 

 around the females, swinging their heads and uttering low love notes, 

 and incoming flocks quickly disintegrated into pairs which moved about 

 together, though often congregating with many others on flats and sand- 

 bars. The male was extremely jealous and pugnacious, however, and im- 

 mediately resented the slightest approach of another toward his choice; 

 and this spirit was shown equally when an individual of another species 

 chanced to come near. When a pair was feeding, the male moved rest- 

 lessly about, constantly on the alert, and at the first alarm the pair drew 

 near one another, and just before taking wing uttered a deep, ringing 

 u-lugh, u-lugh; these, like the flight notes, having a peculiar, deep tone 

 difficult to describe." 



In Alaska the nests are placed on the flat marshy islands bordering 

 the sea all along the middle and southern part of the delta. Along the 

 sea coasts the eggs are laid among bleached and wave-torn scraps of 

 driftwood lying along the highest tide marks. The number of eggs 



