i 



; 



I 



122 



GEESE. 



bottom lands, they seldom visit the high, dry prairies like the Snow 

 and Canada Geese " (Goss). 



The EcKopKAN White-fronted Goose (171. Aneer alhi/rons) rcHembles 

 its American representutivo in color, but averages smaller. It is American 

 only tts it occurs in Greenland, where gambeli is apparently unknown. 



178* Branta canadensis {Linn.). QwiKHK Goosb. Ad.~Thtoat 

 and a large patch on tlie side of the head behind the eye wliite or wUiti.sli ; 

 chin and rest of tlie head and neck black ; back and wings grayish brown, more 

 or less edged with lighter ; tail and shorter upper tail-coverts black, longer 

 and lateral one« white ; breast and belly grayish, fading to white on the lower 

 belly ; sides like the back. Im. — Similar, but throat and cheeks sometimes 

 mixed with blackish. " L., 35-00-43'00 ; W., 15-GO-21-00; Tar., 2-45-3-70; B., 

 1-55-2-70" (Ridgw.). 



Range. — Temperate North America ; breeds in the northern United States 

 and British provinces ; south in winter to Mexico. 



Washington, W. V. and rather common T. V., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, 

 common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Oct., some W. V. Sing Sing, tolerably com- 

 mon T. v., Mch. 11 to May 21 ; Oct. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. and 

 Apl. ; Oct. to Dec. 



Nest^ of sticks lined with down, on the ground in the open prairie, on 

 the shores of streams, on tree stumps and sometimes in trees, when a de- 

 serted nest of the Osprey is generally used. Eggs, four to five, buHy white, 

 8-50 X 2-35. 



Probably the mij^jration of no bird attracts more universal interest 

 than that of the Wild Goose. Ornithologists talk of "waves" and 

 "flights" of migrants passing in the night, but the biannual pilgrim- 

 age of the Canada Goose appeals to lis all with the directness of a per- 

 sonal experience. We see the living wedge of long-necked birds pass- 

 ing high overhead; the unbroken sonnd-waves bring the sonorous 

 " honks " with unexpected distinctness to our ears ; and we receive an 

 impressive lesson in the migration of birds. They are embarked on a 

 journey of several thousand miles, but they come and go as surely as 

 though they carried chart and compass. 



172a* B. C. hutchinsli («S'"'. <{• liich.). IIi'TcuiNa''s Goose.— Resem- 

 bles the preceding in color, but averages smaller. L., 2.'J00-3't'00 ; W., 14-7r>- 

 17'7r); Tar., 2-25-3-20; B., l-20-l-'.tO (Ridgw.). 



Range.— '•^ North America, brceiling in tlie arctic regions, and migrating 

 Boath in wint< chiefly through the western United States and Mississippi 

 Valley; eastern Asia" (A. 0. U.). 



Long Island, A. V. 



178c* B* C* m<nt»»»a litdgiv. Cacklino Goose. — To be distinguished 

 from tlie two preceding by its smaller size and the much darker brownish- 

 gray color of the breast and upper belly. " W., I360-14'50; Tar., 2-40-2-75; 

 B.,-96-1-15" (Ridgw.). 



