138 

 



cover the entire feather. The shoulders, scapulars, tertials, greater 

 coverts and secondaries, are of a varying shade of dark plumbeous 

 edged with lighter, which, on the tertials and secondaries, becomes 

 pure white, and is of considerable width. The tail feathers are much 

 the same and the lesser wing coverts are like the sides of the neck 

 a grizzly ashy. The bill, feet, and tips of the primaries are black, as 

 are two or three of the outer secondaries. This species generally 

 .migrates in flocks of large size, consisting only of its own kind. At 

 times, however, the three species unite and proceed in company. It 

 .frequents the cornfields in Central Illinois while here, and migrates 

 a little later .in the fall, and earlier in the spring, than the white- 

 fronted goose. 



Genus Branta Scopoli. 



258. B. bernicla Linn. BRANT GOOSE. Probably a rare visitant, 

 but the only .instance known to me of its capture in this portion of 

 the country is a specimen taken by Dr. Hoy, from a flock of three, 

 upon the Lake shore near Racine. The bird is now in his collection. 



259. B. canadensis var. canadensis Linn. An abundant mi- 

 grant. Arrives early in October and remains until the first of Decem- 

 ber. Returns in March and remains until well into April. Formerly 

 bred commonly in the marshes throughout the state, and still breeds 

 sparingly in the more secluded situations. 



259a. Var. hutchinsi Kick. HUTCHINS' GOOSE. Rather common, 

 but not the most common form, as my friend Mr. Ridgway states in 

 his "Catalogue of Illinois Birds." I once had the pleasure of exam- 

 ining a series of Canada Geese which were sent to market by the 

 same hunter, and obtained the same day in Central Illinois. Among 

 the eight specimens in the lot were typical representatives of the 

 two forms, above-named. In addition were several specimens which 

 formed a direct chain in which it was impossible to tell where one 

 variety ended and the other commenced. The size of the speci- 

 mens, the coloration, and indeed every particular, aided in perfecting 

 the series, except the number of tail feathers, which was eighteen 

 throughout. In hutchinsi. I have found this to be a very variable 

 character, as a large portion of the specimens which agree perfectly 

 with the dimensions of the latter possess the eighteen tail feathers, 

 instead of sixteen, as given by authors. 



Genus Anas Linn. 



260. A. boschas Linn. MALLARD. An exceedingly abundant mi- 

 grant and common summer .resident in the more secluded marshes. 

 Once nested abundantly in the prairie sloughs and along borders of 

 .marshes. The spring migrations extend from the last of March to 



