OLD CROW 165 



neck to back, where the darkness of tavemeri is a well marked distinc- 

 tion from the four birds called parvipes. 



Several specimens in the U. S. National Museum, collected by Olaus 

 Murie in 1926 along the Old Crow Kiver, are regarded as Tavemeri. 



It appears that the specimens of geese of north central Alaska and 

 Old Crow can be included and distinguished as tavemeri. Except for 

 the specimen from College, Alaska, which on May 7 was probably in 

 migration, these specimens are in the breeding range ascribed to them 

 by Delacour. One of the geese from Old Crow was a nesting bird, and 

 Kessel and Cade (1958) obtained downy young on the Colville. 

 In addition we have obtained six irmnature specimens from the 

 Koyukuk and Alatna Kivers, where family groups were observed, 

 and one male in breeding condition from Kobuk. These specimens 

 appear to have the characters of tavemeri and occupy the breeding 

 range ascribed to tavemeri by Delacour. 



Bailey (1948) distinguished under leucopareia a dusky goose nesting 

 in Arctic Alaska west of Barrow, inland from the coastal range of 

 the very small minima^ and approaching the coast east of Barrow. 

 The measurements resemble those later ascribed to tavemeri and are 

 less than those of the northern interior geese which would be in the 

 range ascribed to parvipes (A. O. U., Check-list, 1957) . Bailey also 

 pointed out the dusky character of the arctic Alaskan geese, which 

 is matched by our specimens. 



Our two specimens from Old Crow do not establish that the small- 

 billed dusky goose is the only form nesting and migrating along the 

 Porcupine. Mary Lobban reported that she saw a small goose calling 

 in a manner only ascribed to minima. 



During migration we gained the impression that Canada geese were 

 traveling eastward and westward although a greater number were 

 headed eastward. 



The Indian name for the goose is Kyha. 



Branta nigricans (Lawrence) 



Only one flock of about 60 brant was noticed flying swiftly east- 

 ward close to the Porcupine Eiver on May 25. They are, however, 

 well known to the local Indians. As late may migrants they are seen 

 passing eastward along the Porcupine at Old Crow, and more often on 

 a northerly and northeasterly course over Crow Flats. Cade (1955) 

 collected reports, mostly from older records, showing that numerous 

 and large flights of brant late in May pass through the interior of 

 Alaska. In part the brant pass Old Crow after coming up the Porcu- 

 pine, apparently from Alaska. None are known to summer on the 

 Porcupine and Old Crow Eivers (Murray, in Richardson, 1852, p. 304), 

 but there are numerous summer settlements of black brant on the 



