CANADA GOOSE 75 



Three other species of Geese have been obtained in the 

 British Isles ; namely, the CANADA GOOSE, the EGYPTIAN 

 and the SPUR-WINGED GOOSE. These have been intro- 

 duced into our country, and unpinioned birds inhabit 

 ornamental waters. It is more than likely that specimens 

 which have been shot, apparently as wild birds, may have 

 escaped from confinement. Some Egyptian and Canada 

 Geese have been obtained at seasons when migration is 

 practically at a standstill, and it is a significant fact that 

 the Canada Goose has been more often procured in England 

 than in Ireland, though the latter country is nearer to 

 America. Furthermore, the east side of Ireland has yielded 

 more specimens than the west side. 



The Egyptian and Spur-winged Geese are residential 

 species in the tropical regions, and evidence goes to prove 

 that they have not been obtained in a truly wild state 

 latitudes north of the Mediterranean. 



Inasmuch as these three species have not as yet claims 

 sufficient to rank as British birds, it is not necessary to give 

 more than a general account of their descriptive characters 

 and measurements, so that if shot they may be identified. 



CANADA GOOSE. Bernicla canadensis. (Linn.) 

 DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult. Head, and upper part of neck, 

 black ; on the back of the cheeks a white patch extends 

 to the chin and throat ; lower neck, white ; back and 

 wings, brownish ; primaries, rump, and tail, black ; upper 

 and under tail-coverts, white ; breast and abdomen, light 

 brown ; flanks, paler. 



BEAK. Black. 



FEET. Dark greyish-black. 



IRIDES. Dark hazel. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH 40 in. 



WING 18 



BEAK 2 ,, 



TARSO-METATARSUS 3 



