ANSERIN.F, — Til 10 GEESE — BERXICLA. 



457 



inches ; culmen, l.r)')-2.7(l ; deptli of mandible at base, .80-1.20 ; widtli, .75-1.20 ; tar- 

 sus, 2.45-3.70 ; middle toe, 2.25-3.30. (Ten specimens measured.) llah. United States 

 generally, and British Provinces, breeding chielly north of 40°. 



2. Occidentalis. A\Tii)lc plumaj^e more brown than in camtdensis, the lower parts only 



.sliL,dilly palii- tli:ni tlic upper, the deep brown of the abdomen contrasted aliruptly witli 

 the white of the anal region ; white cheek-patches frei|Uently separated by a black throat- 

 stripe, and white collar round lower neck usually very distinct in winter plumage. Whig, 

 16.25-18.00 inches; culmen, 1.40-1.65; depth of lua.villa at base, .80-95; width, .70- 

 1.00 ; tarsus, 3.05-3.25 ; middle toe, 2.50-2.75. (Two specimens measured.) Hah. 

 Northwest coast, south to California in winter; north to Sitka. 

 B. Tail-fi-atlu-rs usually 13 to 16 ; size usually small. 



3. Hutchiiisi. lOxactly like canadensis in plumage, hut averaging slightly darker; size 



smaller. Wing, 14.75-17.75 inches ; culmen, 1.20-1.90; depth of ma.xilla at base, .70- 

 1.00; width, .60-.85 ; tarsus, 2.2.5-3.20 ; middle toe, 2.05-2.80. (Seventeen specimens 

 measured.) Ilah. Breeding in the Arctic Eegions, migrating south in winter, chiefly 

 tIirnHL;h the Western United States and Mississippi Valley. 



4. Leucopareia. E.\actly like mxidcntalis in colors, but averaging still darker, the size 



nuich smaller. Wing, 13.60-16.35 incdies ; culmen, .95-1.35 ; depth of maxilla at base, 

 .60-.75; width, .52-70 ; tarsus, 2.10-3.10 ; middle toe, 1.80-2.45. (Ten specimens meas- 

 ured.) Hah. Breeding in the Western Arctic Regions (coast of Alaska, etc.), migrating 

 southward into Western United States, though occasionally straying eastward to the 

 Mississippi Valley. 



It is liarely possible that the several forms defined above really represent as many distinct 

 species, and the intermediate specimens which occur are the result of extensive hybridization ; or 

 there may be two species, a larger 

 and smaller {B. umadcnsis and B. 

 Hittchinsi), distinguished also by a 

 difference in the number of rectrices, 

 and each having a darker western 

 representative race. Indeed we a)'e 

 iiudiued to regard the latter view with 

 considerable favor. At present, how- 

 ever, we can do no more than to de- 

 scribe each form in detail, and present 

 the history of each as known at the 

 present time.' 



a canadensis. — The Large Can- 

 ada Goose. 



Adult (No. 10402, Salt Lake, Utah ; 

 Captain Stassbury) : Size very large, 

 the bill lengthened and depressed, 

 the lower parts pale gray in color, 

 fading insensibly into the white of the 

 anal region. White gular patch im- 

 maculate. Wing, 20.00 inches ; cul- 

 men, 2.10; tarsus, 3.30; middle toe, 

 3.20. Tail-feathers, 17. 



.-1. canadensis. 



1 Since the above was written many additional .specimens of B. leucopareia have been received at 

 the National Museum. These are so uniform in all their characters as to leave no doubt in ray mmd 

 that the species is distinct from B. canadensis. The relationship of B. HiUchinsi is still uncei-tain, but 

 tlie probability is that it represents a lighter-colored inland race of leucopareia; though, on the other hand, 

 it may be a small northern form of eawulensis, bearing the same relation to the latter that Oras cana- 

 densis does to G. jnexicana. — li. R. 



VOL. I. — 58 



