50 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



ish. Adult plumage pure white, the head usually washed with rusty-brown, like a 

 swan's, the ends of the primaries blackening. Young resembling the last, but the 

 head not white, while other parts are colored. Large: length, 27.0031.00; extent, 

 57.0062.00; * * * weight 5 or 6 pounds." Cone's Key N. A. B. 



Habitat. North America, breeding far north, and migrating south in winter, 

 chiefly along the Atlantic coast, reaching Cuba. 



Bare and irregular visitor in the early spring, late fall, and in winter. 

 Specimens have been taken in Pennsylvania by Dr. John W. Detwiller 

 of Bethlehem, Pa., and Prof. H. Justin Roddy of Millersville, Pa. 



GENUS BRANTA SCOPOLI. 

 Branta canadensis (LiNN.). 



Canada Goose. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 6). 



*' Tail of eighteen feathers ; head, neck, bill and feet, deep-black ; a large triangular 

 patch of white on the cheeks behind the eye ; the two of opposite sides broadly con- 

 fluent beneath, but not extending to the rami of lower jaw ; a few whitish feathers 

 on lower eyelid ; upper parts brown, edged with paler ; under parts light, with a 

 tinge of purple-gray, sometimes a shade of smoky brown ; the edges of the feathers 

 paler ; the color of the body of the feathers, though similar, becoming deeper on the 

 sides, tibia, axillars, and inside of wings ; the gray of the belly passes gradually into 

 white on the anal region and under coverts ; the upper tail coverts are pure-white ; 

 the primary quills and rump are very dark blackish-brown ; the tail feathers are 

 black ; iris brown. 



" Length, 35 inches ; wing, 18; tarsus, 3.10; commissure, 2.10 inches." Baird's 

 Birds of N. A. 



Habitat. Temperate North America, breeding in the northern United States and 

 British Provinces ; south in winter to Mexico. 



This well-known bird, usually called Wild Goose, is a common spring 

 and fall migrant in Pennsylvania. 



In referring to this species, Wilson says : " The flight of the Wild 

 Geese is heavy and laborious, generally in a straight line, or in two 

 lines, approximating to a point thus, > : In both cases the van is led 

 by an old gander, who, every now and then, pipes his well known honk, 

 as if to ask how they come on ; and the honk of 'All's well ' is generally 

 returned by some of the party. Their course is in a straight line, with 

 the exception of the undulations of their flight. When bewildered in 

 foggy weather, they appear sometimes to be in great distress, flying 

 about in an irregular manner, and for a considerable time over the same 

 quarter, making a great clamor. On these occasions, should they ap- 

 proach the earth and alight which they sometimes do to rest and rec- 

 ollect themselves the only hospitality they meet with is death and de- 

 struction from a whole neighborhood already in arms for their ruin." 



The food of this species consists chiefly of vegetable materials, such 

 as cereals, the seeds, roots and other portions of plants. 



