240 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. 
BRANTA CANADENSIS CANADENSIS (Linn.). Canada Goose. 
Fairly abundant migrant and somewhat common winter resident. 
Formerly a summer resident. 
Flocks of hundreds of these geese are still to be seen, espe- 
cially in spring. The Canada Goose arrives in early February 
and March and leaves on the southward flight in November or 
December, depending on the severity of the season. Canada 
Geese have been frequently observed wintering here and it has 
been no uncommon sight to see these wintering flocks tumbling 
pell mell into the current of the Missouri River amid great 
fields and agitated masses of floating ice. Great numbers have 
been killed over decoys in January from blinds built of blocks 
of ice on sand bars and points. 
The Wild Goose was a common breeder here in the early days 
in the bottom land jungles. 
Several farmers in this vicinity have extensive flocks of do- 
mesticated Canada Geese which breed freely in confinement. 
Fine specimens of this and the Snow Goose as well as several 
species of the commoner ducks are to be seen in the Swope 
Park Zoo. 
Long lines of these geese pass over the city during every Sea 
son and on stormy nights during migration may be heard honk- 
ing low over the house tops. 
. .; 
: 8 
BRANTA CANADENSIS HUTCHINSI (Richardson). Hutchins 
ec. 
Fairly common migrant. 
This small subspecifie form of the Canada Goose is often see? 
in rather large flocks and is sometimes found flocking with 16 
big relative. 
Owing to increased activity in manufacturing and transpor 
tation, some of the wilder and more wary water fowl have of 
late years avoided certain stretches of the Missouri River where 
they formerly ‘‘used,’’ but this does not mean that there has 
been a proportionate decrease in their numbers. They simply 
seek greater seclusion further up the river or lower down. This 
small goose, in particular, is seldom taken in the county but 1s 
fairly common elsewhere in the vicinity. : 
Its high pitched gabbling note was formerly an a AEE 
element in the wild musie so keenly enjoyed and appreciat 
by ornithologists. 2 
