100 HISTORY OF THE 



Branta canadensis hutchinsii (Sw. & RICH.). 



HUTCHINS' GOOSE. 

 PLATE VIII. 



Migratory; common. A few linger into winter; leave for the 

 north in March to middle of April; returning in October. 



B. 569. E. 584a. C. 704. G. 280, 45. U. 172. 



HABITAT. Arctic and sub- Arctic America; south in winter 

 chiefly through the Mississippi valley, and the western United 

 States; northern Asia. 



SP. CHAR. "Exactly like canadensis in plumage, but averaging slightly 

 darker." 



Stretch of 

 Length, wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 30.00 54.50 15.75 5.50 2.90 1.45 



Female... 26.00 51.00 14.50 4.75 2.50 1.30 



These birds occur irregularly on the Atlantic coast, and are 

 not common until the Mississippi valley is reached; from there 

 west to the Pacific, very common. In their habits are similar 

 to the Canada Goose, but breed farther north, chiefly within 

 the Arctic circle; eggs usually five or six. A set of five eggs, 

 taken in July, 1864, at Anderson River, on the Arctic coast, 

 measure: 3.11x2.12, 3.25x2.14, 3.19x2.25, 3.26x2.12, 3.12x 

 2.18; color dull white; in form, ovate. 



Branta bernicla (LINN.). 



BRANT. 

 PLATE VIII. 



A rare, casual migrant. 



B. 570. R. 595. C. 700. G. 281, 46. U. 173. 



HABITAT. Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in 

 North America, chiefly on the Atlantic coast; very rare in the 

 interior, or away from salt water; breeding wholly within the 

 Arctic circle. 



SP. CHAR. "Adult: Head, neck and jugulum continuous black, the anterior 

 portion of the head having a brownish cast; posterior outline of the black on 

 the jugulum very regular and sharply defined against the brownish gray of the 

 breast. Middle of the neck with a transverse crescentic patch of white on 

 each side, formed of white tips and sub-tips of the feathers, the black showing 

 through in places so as to form oblique lines. Above, smoky plumbeous, the 



