IWW«Si((!»,»»!!MH"ft»»Wr 



n 



^Sill 



460 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



mens, liiiving 13 to 1(3 rectrices, vary in size, so as to lead directly up to the smaller examples, 

 possessing 18 to 20 rectrices, ■ being wholly impossible to separate specimens by size ahtne. 



The ttccompanying figures, which are life-size, are intended to show extreme variations in the 

 shape of the bill iu this diminutive race. 



'J'here appi^ir to be other variations of this species, which are hardly to be classed as geograph- 

 ical races, but which seem to owe their characteristics to hybridization witli otlier species, or to an 

 abnormal degree of individual variation. Among these luay be classed the — 



Bcrnida Icucolcenw, MuiiUAV, Wliite-Frilled Goose, EJ. New Plii. Jour. IX. April, 1859, 226. 



Sp. Char. Similar to the common Canada Goose of the United States iu markings, but larger. 

 Chin from rami of lower mandible, cravat on sides and beneath the jaws, and extending along 

 under side of neck nearly to end of Ijlack portion, white, becoming narrower and spotted with 

 black ; under eyelid liroadly white ; lower part of neck pale dirty lavender, upper jiait of breast 

 paler ; lower part and belly almost white ; <jr breast and belly pale lavendei', with a broad white 

 band across breast ; legs brown ; >veb bright yellow. Length -JO.OO inches ; upper mandible, above 

 2.50 ; wing, l!).2r> ; tarsus, 3.00 ; first phalanx of middle toe, 1.50. 



Difl'ers from B. canadensis in larger size, and plumage paler throughout ; brown replacing black, 

 etc. The white of head is more extended, reaching along nearly the whole throat and to lower 

 jaw ; the interdigital spaces yellow, not black, etc. 



Bcrnida Banislonii, l^oss, Canad. Nat. VII. 1862, 152 ; Nat. Hist. Review, 1862, p. 28. 



" This bird was shot at Fort Simpson (on tlie Mackenzie). It is of very large size, with the 

 breast of a briglit fawn-color. The deltii of leathers running up into the lower mandible is white, 

 instead of black, as in B. cancuknsis. The tail is of sixteen feathers. The Indians consider it a 

 distinct species from the Canada Goose. It seldom flies in parties of more than five or six." 



Bernicla Canadensi 



iis. 



Our common Wild Gooso has a very extended range througliont the M'hole of North 

 America, occurring from the Gulf of ]\Iexico to the Arctic Ocean, and from the At- 

 lantic to the Pacific. Ahundaut upon nearly all the interior Avatcr.s, it breeds in 

 various parts of the country as far south as latitude 42"^ N., and even farther south 

 than this parallel in favorable localities, and throughout .ill the regions north. 



Ei('hardson found it abundant, in pairs, throughout the J'ur Countries up to a liigh 

 parallel of latitude. It associates in flocks only on its flrst arrival, and feeds on all 

 kinds of berries. Early in the spring its crops are found to l)e iilh'd Avith the farina- 

 ceous astringent fruit of the Elwaipms arf/oitca. The inhabitants of the wooded and 

 swampy districts depend principally upon this Goose for subsistence during the sum- 

 mer. It makes its first appearance in flocks of twenty or thirty, and is readily decoyed 

 within gunshot by the hunters, who imitate its call. About three weeks after its 

 first appearance it disperses in pairs throughout the country to breed, retiring at the 

 same time from the shores of Hudson's Bay. It was found nesting as far north as 

 Fort Anderson and the Lower Anderson River ; but the statement of Dr. llichardson, 

 that it is not known to breed on the Arctic coast, remains unchallenged. 



In July, after the young birds are hatched, the parents moult, and vast numbers 

 are killed in the rivers and small lakes before they art; able to fly. "When chased by 

 a canoe aiul obliged to dive frequently, this bird soon becomes fatigued, and makes 

 for the shore to hide, thus falling an easy prey to it.t pursuers. In the autunni it 

 assembles in flocks on the shores of Hudson's Bay for a month previous to its depar- 

 ture for the south. In its migrations it .annually resorts to certain resting-places, some 

 of which arc frequented both in the spring and autumn, and others only in the spring. 

 While on the Saskatchewan it generally builds its nest on the grouiul ; some pairs 



