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BERNICULA CANADENSIS (Batrp). 
THE CANADA GOOSE. 
Specific Character—Head and neck deep black, the former with a white 
patch covering the throat and extending up over the cheeks to behind the eyes, 
growing gradually narrower above, the upper outline usually more or less trun- 
eated ; this white patch, however, sometimes interrupted on the throat by a nar- 
row black stripe or isthmus. Very rarely a broad-white band more or less 
distinctly indicated, crosses the forehead between the eyes. Back of neck fre- 
‘quently bordered below by a white collar more or less distinet. Upper surface 
grayish brown, varying from almost cinereous to umber, each featner bordered 
terminally by a paler shade ; lower parts with the exposed surface of about the 
same shade as the tips of the feather of the upper part, the concealed portion of 
the feathers of the shade of the prevailing colour above—this much along the sides 
-and on the flanks. Primaries and their coverts plain dusky, the former growing 
nearly black terminally. Anal region, crissum, and lower tail coverts immaculate 
pure white. Tail, plain deep black ; rump, plain blackish slate. Bill and feet 
deep black. : | 
Total length about 20 to upwards of 40 inches ; wing 13.60 to 21.00 ; culmen 
_ .95 to 2.70; depth of maxilla at base, .60-1.20, width, .52-1.20 ; tarsus, 2.10-3.70 ; 
middle toe, 1.80 to 1.40; tail feathers, 13 to 20. 
4 Habitat—Temperate North America in general, breeding in the United 
{ “States and British provinces principally to the far north. 
As will be observed in the description of the Canada goose, great variations. 
in size are given, greater it may be than in any of the domesticated kinds which 
are called varieties. The variety called Hutchin’s goose has exactly the same 
_ plumage as B. Canadensis, the only difference being that the bird is smaller, so 
that the best ornithologists are in doubt as to whether var. Hutchinsiz should be 
- considered a variety. The only character which appears constant is that the 
_ smaller bird has usually from thirteen to sixteen tail feathers while the larger 
_ averages eighteen or twenty. Their habits are exactly alike, and they are found 
_ together in the same flock. If, then, we may consider these two birds as one and 
_ the same, under the name of our common wild goose, it is found distributed over 
_ the whole of North America from its most southern to its most northern limit 
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. It is said to breed as far south as. 
latitude 42° N. and throughout all the region north. 
_ This bird migrates north at the end of March or early in April, returning in 
_ November. During its journey north it often stops at any favourable feeding 
_ ground for a week or two; in fact, all along the north shore of Lake Erie it is no 
uncommon thing for large flocks of these birds to frequent fall wheat fields for a. 
_ week or two making sad havoc of the wheat in low places in the field. They are 
_ very wary, and difficult to get a shot at in the field, but a good many are shot 
every spring at such places as Long Point, St. Clair Flats, etc., ete. In the fall 
_ they also rest on their way in these same localities, but not in such great num- 
_ bers. Its food consists of leaves, grasses, seeds of water plants, etc. When well 
_ grown and fat it will often weigh twelve pounds. It nests on the ground, laying 
_ usually about-six eggs. Dr. Coues says, this goose has been known in the upper 
_ Missouri and Yellowstone region to breed in trees. In Ontario this bird is usually 
_ shot in the spring, which seems a most unsportsmanlike proceeding, as the birds. 
_ are then on their way to their nesting-places. They are certainly shooting the 
_ goose which lays the eggs from which come the autumn flocks. 
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