HUTCHINS GOOSE. 207 



Bay, and they are seldom or ever seen on the shores of the 

 Arctic Sea. In July, after the young birds are hatched, 

 the parents moult, and vast quantities are killed in the 

 rivers and small lakes before they are able to fly. When 

 chased by a canoe, and obliged to dive frequently, they 

 soon become fatigued, and make for the shore with the 

 intention of hiding themselves ; but as they are not fleet, 

 they fall an easy prey to their pursuers. In the autumn, 

 they again assemble in flocks, on the shores of Hudson's 

 Bay, for three weeks or a month previous to their de- 

 parture southward. In these migrations, the geese are 

 observed annually to resort to certain passes and resting 

 places; some of which are frequented both in the spring 

 and autumn, and others only in the spring. 



A short description of this remarkable bird will alone 

 be necessary. Length three feet. Bill black ; irides 

 dark hazel : the upper half of the neck is black, marked 

 round the chin with a transverse band of white : the 

 back and wing covers are hrown, each feather being tipt 

 with whitish ; but the rump and tail are black : vent 

 and tail covers white : the primary quills are black, and 

 reach to the end of the tail : legs and feet greyish black. 

 Both sexes are exactly alike. 



The nest is generally built on the ground; but some 

 occasionally breed in trees, depositing their eggs in the 

 deserted nests of ravens and fishing eagles. 



HuTCHiNS Goose. 

 Anser Hutchinsonii, Richardson. 



Bill black, less than an inch and a half in length : the 

 throat with a white kidney-shaped patch : upper part 

 of the neck black : the breast white. 



Anser Hutchinsonii, Rich. North. Zool. ii. 47. 



This new American goose, first discovered by Dr. 

 Richardson, has not yet been added to our domestic- 

 ated, list; and we have some doubts, indeed, whether, 

 from its marine habits, and its food consisting, as 



