18 CANADA GOOSE. 



Canada Geese, that had been procured a few days before, and were al- 

 ready salted for winter use. The pile consisted of several hundred indi- 

 viduals, all of which had been killed before they were able to fly. I was 

 told there that this species fed much on the leaves of the dwarf firs, and, 

 on examining their gizzards, found the statement to be correct. 



The young dive very expertly, soon after their reaching the water, at 

 the least appearance of danger. In the Southern and Western States, the 

 enemies of the Canada Goose are, by water, the Alhgator, the Garfish, 

 and the Turtle ; and on land, the Cougar, the Lynx, and the Racoon. 

 While in the air, they are liable to be attacked by the White-headed 

 Eagle. It is a very hardy bird, and individuals have been kept in a state 

 of captivity or domestication for upwards of forty years. Every portion 

 of it is useful to man, for besides the value of the flesh as an article of 

 food, the feathers, the quills, and the fat, are held in request. The eggs 

 also afford very good eating. 



Anas canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 198 — Lath. Iiid. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 838. 

 Anser canadensis, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 377- 

 Canada Goose, Anas canadensis, Wils. Amer, Ornith. vol. viii. p. 52. pi. 67. fig. 4. 

 Anser canadensis, Canada Goose, Swains, and Richards. Fauna Bor. Amer. p. 468. 

 Canada Goose, Nuttail, Manual, vol. ii. p. 349. 



Adult Male. Plate CCI. Fig. 1. 



Bill shorter than the head, rather higher than broad at the base, some- 

 what conical, depressed towards the end, rounded at the tip. Upper 

 mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge broad and flattened, the 

 sides sloping, the edges soft and obtuse, the oblique marginal lamellae 

 short, transverse, about thirty on each side ; the unguis obovate, convex, 

 denticulate on the inner edge. Nasal groove oblong, parallel to the ridge, 

 fiUed by the soft membrane of the bill ; nostrils medial, lateral, longitu- 

 dinal, narrow-elliptical, open, pervious. Lower mandible straight, with 

 the angle very long, narrow, and rounded, the edges soft and obtuse, with 

 about thirty oblique lamellae on a perpendicular plane. 



Head small, oblong, compressed. Neck long and slender. Body full, 

 slightly depressed. Feet short, stout, placed behind the centre of the 

 body ; legs bare a little above the tibio-tarsal joint ; tarsus short, a lit- 

 tle compressed, covered all round with angular reticulated scales, which 

 are smaller behind ; hind toe very small, with a narrow membrane ; 

 third toe longest, fourth a little shorter, but longer than second ; all the 



