.'■v=»fr:TiB-f»'. 



458 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERES. 



Tbe specimen described above is an iivevn{,'e representative of the typical form of Bemicla cana- 

 deusis, known to hunters usually as the " B\<^ Wild Goose." The distribution of this form is some- 

 what uncertain, but it apparently prevails in the region around Hudson's Bay, and the United 

 States generally, breeding as far Kuuth at I'ast as the parallel of 4CP, but now rare, except during 

 the migrations, east of the Mississippi Valley. 



Two specimens in the collection (Nos. 20116, Fort Simpson, May, 1860; P.. R. Ross — "7J. 

 Bamstonii" on original label— and 53691, Truckee Meadows Ntv., Nov. 5, 1867 ; R. Ridgwav) 

 have a well-defined band across the forehead, between the eyes, of speckled white and dusky. A 

 specimen fornufrly in the collection, but destroyed by insects, somewhere from tlie high north, had 

 this band unspotted white ! No. 0954, Rio Rita Laguna, New Mexico, has the entire lower ports 

 stained with reddish ochraceous, this being i)erhaps merely a discoloration from contact with ferru- 

 ginous clay. Among the variations' of this large race of the Canada Goose are perhaps to be ranged 

 the Umncla leucolwmn, or Wliite-frilled Goose of Murray, and the B. Barnstoni, or Barnston's Goose 

 of Ross, descriptions of which are given fartlier on (see p. 461)). 



/3. occiden talis. — Lakuer White-cheeked Goose. 



Adult (No. 5994, Port To wnsend, Washington Territory ; Dr. Suckley) : Throat speckled with 

 black medially, indicating an isthnms, not complete enough, however, to separate the white of the 

 opposite cheeks ; black of the neck bordered below and in front by a collar of pure white, abruptly 



defined against the dark grayish brown of the 

 jugulum. Plumage generally, dark grayish 

 umber, the paler terminal borders to the feath- 

 ers very inconspicuous, the lower parts scarcely 

 paler than the upper, and abruptly defined 

 against the pure white of the cris.uim. Wing, 

 18.(»(> inches ; culnien, 1.65 ; tareus, 3.05 ; 

 middle toe, 2.75. Tail-feathers, 18. 



No. 66615, Puget Sound, Dr. Kenneria', 

 dilfers in lacking the white collar; No. 46228, 

 Sitka, May, 1866, F. BibCHorF, is like the last, 

 liut jireserves a trace of the wh.ite collar. No. 

 23238, San Francisco, Cal., April, 1861, F. Gru- 

 BER, is considerably smaller, measuring, wing, 

 16.25 inches ; culnien, 1.40 ; tarsus, 3.25 ; and 

 middle toe, 2..'j0. In coloration it is quite pe- 

 culiar : the very broad and c(jntinuous white 

 collar extends entirely around the neck, though 

 it is somewhat interrui)ted beliind ; while be- 

 low, it is bordered by a very dark-brown collar, 

 which is nearly black at the edge of the white, 

 but fading off gradually into the ash of the 

 jugulum, which is considerably paler than in the 

 foregoing examples. The feathers of the neck all api)ear to be white below the surface. 



As in the leucopareia, the seasonal differences of plumage are well marked in this race. The 

 white collar belongs only to fall and winter birds, in which the brown tints are darker and more 

 of an umber cast. As spring advances, tiie white gradually disappears, and in midsummer is 

 entirely obsolete, this chanyc taking place without moulting of the feathers. 



y. Hutohinsi. — Hutchins'b Ooose. 



Adult (No. 49829, $ , Nulato, Lower Yukon, Alaska, May 9, 1867 ; W. H. Dall) : Exactly 

 like typical canadensis in colors. Wing, 16.35 inches ; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.90 ; middle toe, 

 2.10. Tail feathers, 15. 



In a large series of specimens, the following variations are noted : The ashy beneath varies from 

 the pule tint of canadensis to the dark tihades of leucopareia and occideutalin, but is usually about 



S. Uutchinsii. 



