CANADA GOOSE. 19 



toes reticulated above at the base, but with narrow transverse scutella to- 

 wards the end ; the three anterior connected by a reticulated membrane, 

 the outer with a thick margin, the inner with the margin extended into a 

 two-lobed web ; claws small, arched, rather compressed, except that of 

 the middle toe, which is bent obliquely outwards and depressed, with a 

 curved edge. Wings of moderate length, with an obtuse protuberance at 

 the flexure. 



Plumage close, rather short, compact above, blended on the neck and 

 lower parts of the body. The feathers of the head and neck very narrow, 

 of the back very broad and abrupt, of the breast and belly broadly round- 

 ed. Wings, when closed, extending to about an inch from the end of the 

 tail, acute ; primaries very strong, curved, the second longest, the third 

 slightly shorter, the flrst almost as long as the third, the rest rapidly 

 graduated ; secondaries long, rather narrow, rounded. Tail very short, 

 rounded, of eighteen stiff, rounded, but acuminate, feathers. 



Bill, feet, and claws black. Iris chestnut-brown. Head and two 

 upper thirds of the neck glossy black ; forehead, cheeks, and chin, tinged 

 with brown ; lower eyelid white ; a broad band of the same across the 

 throat to behind the eyes ; rump and tail-feathers also black. The gene- 

 ral colour of the rest of the upper parts is greyish-brown, the wing-coverts 

 shaded into ash-grey ; all the feathers terminally edged with very pale 

 brown ; the lower part of the neck passing into greyish- white, which is 

 the general colour of the lower parts, with the exception of the abdomen, 

 which is pure white, the sides, which are pale brownish-grey, the feathers 

 tipped with white, and the lower wing-coverts, which are also pale brown- 

 ish-grey. The margins of the rump, and the upper tail-coverts, pure 

 white. 



In very old males, I have found the breast of a fine pale buff: 



Length to end of tail 43 inches, extent of wings 65 ; bill along the 

 ridge 2^, in depth at the base Ij-^, in breadth 1 ; tarsus 3/^ ; middle toe 

 and claw 4>\ ; wing from flexure SO ; tail 7^. Weight 7 lb. 



Adult Female. Plate CCI. Fig. 2. 



The Female is somewhat less than the male, but similar in colouring, 

 although the tints are duller. The white of the throat is tinged with 

 brown ; the lower parts are always more grey, and the black of the head, 

 neck, rump, and tail, is shaded with brown. 



Length 41 inches. Weight 5| lb. 



B 2 



