458 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



The specimen described above is an average representative of the typical form of Bernida cana- 

 densis, known to hunters nsually as the " Big Wild Goose." The distribution of this form is some- 

 what uncertain, but it apparently prevails in the region around Hudson's Bay, and the United 

 States "euerally, breeding as far south at least as the parallel of 40°, but now rare, except during 

 the migrations, east of the Mississippi Valley. 



Two specimens in the collection (Nos. 20116, Fort Simpson, May, 1860 ; B. R. Ross — "i?. 

 Barnstonii" on original label — and 53691, Truckee Meadows, Nev., Nov. 5, 1867 ; R. Ridgwat) 

 have a well-defined band aci-oss the forehead, between the eyes, of speckled white and dusky. A 

 specimen formerly in the collection, but destroyed by insects, somewhere from the high north, had 

 this baud unspotted white ! No. 9954, Rio Rita Laguna, New Mexico, has the entire lower parts 

 stained with reddish ochraceous, this being perhaps merely a discoloration from contact with ferru- 

 ginous clay. Among the variations of this large race of the Canada Goose are perhaps to be ranged 

 the Bernida leucotcema, or White-frilled Goose of Murray, and the B. Barnstoni, or Barnstou's Goose 

 of Ross, descriptions of which are given farther on (see p. 460). 



/3. occidentalis. — Larger White-cheeked Goose. 



Adult (No. 5994, Port Townsend, Washington Territory ; Dr. Suckley) : Throat speckled with 

 black medially, indicating an isthmus, not complete enough, however, to separate the white of the 

 opposite cheeks ; black of the neck bordered below and in front by a collar of pure white, abruptly 



defined against the dark grayish brown of the 

 jugulum. Plumage generally, dark graj'ish 

 umber, the paler terminal borders to the feath- 

 ers very inconspicuous, the lower parts scarcely 

 paler than the upper, and abruptly defined 

 against the pure white of the crissum, Wing, 

 18.00 inches ; culmen, 1.65 ; tarsus, 3.05 ; 

 middle toe, 2.75. Tail-feather.s, 18. 



No. 66615, Puget Sound, Dr. Kennerly, 

 diti'ers in lacking the white collar ; No. 46228, 

 Sitka, May, 1866, F. Bischoff, is like the last, 

 but preserves a trace of the white collar. No. 

 23238, San Francisco, Cal., April, 1861, F. Gru- 

 ber, is consideralily smaller, measuring, wing, 

 16.25 inches ; culmen, 1.40 ; tarsus, 3.25 ; and 

 middle toe, 2.50. In coloration it is quite pe- 

 culiar : tlie very broad and continuous white 

 collar extends entirely around the neck, though 

 it is somewhat interrupted behind ; while be- 

 low, it is bordered by a very dark-brown collar, 

 which is nearly black at the edge of the white, 

 but fading off gradually into the ash of the 

 jugulum, which is considerably paler than in the 

 foregoing examples. The feathers of the neck all aiipear to he white below the surface. 



As in the leucopareia, the seasonal differences of plumage are well marked in this race. The 

 white collar belongs only to fall and winter birds, in which the brown tints are darker and more 

 of an umber cast. As spring advances, tlie white gradually disappears, and in midsummer is 

 entirely obsolete, this change taking place without moulting of the feathers. 



B. HiUdiitisii. 



y. Hiitchiusi. — HuTCHiNs's Goose. 



Adult (No. 49829, S , Nulato, Lower Yukon, Alaska, May 9, 1867 ; W. H. Dall) : Exactly 

 like typical canadensis in colors. Wing, 16.35 inches ; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.90 ; middle toe, 

 2.10. TaU feathers, 15. 



In a large series of specimens, the fnllowing variations are noted : The ashy beneath varies from 

 the pale tint of canadensis to the dark .sliades of leucopareia and occidentaU", but is usually about 



