79 



Genus — Anser. Grey Goose. 



171a. White-fronted Goose, fh. — l'oib a front blanc. Anser albifrons. L, 27. 

 Greyish brown, darker on head and neck, lighter below, white patch about base of bill; 

 light colour of underparts irregularly blotched with black aggregating in maturity into 

 indefinite bands giving an immature effect even to adult birds. 



Distinctions. Brown head and white face. 



Field Marks. 3eneral brownness and white face mark. 



Nesting. On the ground. 



Distribution. The White-fronted Goose is a nearly circumpolar species. The Ameri- 

 can subspecies breeds on the western Arctic mainland and islands. Migrates through the 

 interior of the continent and is found rarely as far east as the Great Lakes. 



jS UBSPECIES. Our representative, the American White-fronted Goose A . a. gambeli, 

 is a subspecies of the European White-fronted Goose from which it is said to be distinguished 

 by its slightly larger size. 



Genus — Branta. Canada Goose and Brant. 



172. Canada Goose, wild goose, grey goose, fr. — la behnache du Canada 

 (l'outarde) 1 . Branta canadensis. L, 35. Plate V B. 



Distinctions. Large size, black head and neck, white throat and cheek-patch. 



Field Marks. Black head and neck and white throat-patch. A white V over the tail, 

 displayed when flying, will separate the members of this genus from any of the larger Ducks. 



Nesting. On the ground, occasionally in large deserted nests in trees. 



Distribution. Breeds across the continent from beyond the northern tree limit to the 

 borders of settlement. 



SUBSPECIES. The Canada Goose is divided into several geographical races. 

 In the west, there is a small subspecies called Hutchins's Goose B. c. hutchinsi. It is said 

 to have a different note and to be quite distinguishable in life by experienced hunters. 

 Its smaller size is an uncertain criterion but is the only distinction that can be given here. 

 Its length averages under 25 inches. It is to be expected only as far east as Manitoba 

 and its identification elsewhere should be made with great caution. 



The Goose is a wary and watchful bird, usually spending the day well 

 out in the open water, coming in to the marshes and cultivated fields to 

 feed at night or in the evening and unless disturbed remaining until well 

 into the ne!xt day. While so engaged there is always at least one with 

 long neck upstretched surveying the surrounding country for danger and 

 an unobserved approach by even the most experienced stalker is next to 

 impossible. On this account the Canada Goose has perhaps suffered less 

 from hunters than other members of its order and until its remaining 

 breeding grounds are invaded there is little danger of its being exterminated. 

 It bred originally within the borders of our present inhabited areas but 

 settlement has driven it from its more southerly breeding range. How- 

 ever, it still occupies large areas throughout northern Canada as far as 

 the northern tree limits, and as much of this territory will remain unsettled 

 for many years the Goose is assured of safe breeding grounds. However, 

 unless intelligent conservation principles are adopted the Canada Goose 

 will probably decrease in proportion to the rate at which its breeding 

 grounds are opened up. 



l A regrettable confusion hae risen in the French-Canadian use of the vernacular name Oularde for this bird. 

 Correctly, Outarde is the name of the Bustard, an Old World species with no American representative. It is 

 more nearly a Shore Bird than a Goose and there is no justification for applying its name to this species. The 

 most correct French name for the Canada Goose and the one adopted for use by the Dominion Migratory Bird 

 officials is Bernacke du Canada. 



