280 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



GEESE (SUBFAMILY ANSERINE) 

 Characteristics given on p. 276 



Key to the Species 



.10. Fulvous Tree-duck. 



* Wing, 8-10 long ; Louisiana to Texas. . . . 



* Wing over 11 long. (A.) 



A. Serrations on the cutting edge of the upper mandible scarcely visi- 

 ble from the side at all ; if visible then only at the base ; bill, feet, 

 and portions of the head black. (D.) 

 A. Serrations visible from the side for more than half the length of 

 bill ; bill and feet pale. (B. ) 

 B. Depth of bill at base about | the length of culmen ; forehead white 



in the adult 5. White-fronted Goose. 



B. Depth of bill at base much greater than | the length of culmen. (C.) 

 C. General plumage of adult white ; young grayish-brown with the 



wing coverts widely margined with white 3. Snow Goose. 



C. General plumage gray, grayish-brown, or brown without conspicuous 



white margins to the wing coverts 4. Blue Goose. 



D. Head without white but the side of the neck with white streaks ; belly 



white 7. Brant. 



D. Head without white but the side and front of the neck with white 



streaks ; belly brownish-gray 8. Black Brant. 



D. Head with a whitish triangular patch on the cheek and throat (these 



parts are mixed with blackish in the young) 6. Canada Goose. 



D. Head mostly white ; lores black 9. Barnacle Goose. 



3. Lesser Snow Goose (169. Chen hyperborea). — A large, 

 ■vvhite-plumaged goose, with, black-tipped primaries, and red 

 hill and feet. The young has much grayish on the head and 



back ; rump, tail, and 

 lower parts white, and 

 white margins to the 

 wing coverts. This, 

 the smaller snow 

 goose, is rarely found 

 east of the Missis- 

 sippi. The eastern 

 form is given below. 



Length, 23-28; wing, 

 14^17 ; tail, SJ ; tarsus, 

 2|-3J ; culmen, 2-2\. Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley ; breeding 

 in Alaska, and wintering south to Illinois and California. The Greater 



Lesser Snow &oose 



