Goose-shooting 241 



shore or on the sand beaches. It has been found 

 near the base of cliffs, in company with the nests 

 of other sea-birds. In one instance the deserted 

 nest of a crow, in a tree about nine feet from the 

 ground, was utilized. This might have been 

 accounted for by the fact that the ground was 

 covered with snow. (B. B. & R.) 



The weight of this bird is from three to six 

 pounds. Other names are little Canada goose, 

 little gray goose, prairie goose, bay goose. 



THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE 

 (Branta canadensis occidentalis) 



This form is the western representative of the Canada goose, found 

 along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to California. A differen- 

 tiation is perhaps questionable, and the two varieties un- 

 doubtedly occur in company with each other. The distinction 

 is in the back and wings, which are of a lighter brown than in 

 the Canada goose, the lower parts being almost as dark, and by 

 a white collar around the lower part of the neck, where the 

 black terminates ; this collar is noticed in the fall and winter, 

 but is absent in the spring and summer plumage. The meas- 

 urements are similar to those of Branta canadensis. 



Habitat — Breeds from northeastern California to Sitka, and possi- 

 bly Cook Inlet, Alaska. Winters chiefly in the interior of Cali- 

 fornia. Reported from Michigan, and thought to occur at Fort 

 Anderson ; both probably mistakes. 



The white-cheeked goose has a limited distri- 

 bution, and is not a particularly well-known bird. 

 In the winter it ranges south into the interior of 

 California. 



