122 GEESE. 



bottom lands, they seldom visit the high, dry prairies like ths Snow 

 and Canada Geese " (Goss). 



The European White-fronted Goose {171. Anser aVbifroni) resembles 

 its American representative in color, but averages smaller. It is American 

 only as it occurs in Greenland, where gambeli is apparently unknown. 



172. Branta canadensis {Linn.). Canada Goose. Ad. — Throat 

 and a large patch on the side of the head behind the eye white or whitish ; 

 chin and rest of the head and neck black ; back and wings grayish brown, more 

 or less edged with lighter; tail and shorter upper tail-coverts black, longer 

 and lateral ones white ; breast and belly grayish, fading to white on the lower 

 belly ; sides like the back. Im. — Similar, but throat and cheeks sometimes 

 mixed with blackish. "L., 35-00-43-00; W., 15-60-21-00; Tar., 2-45-3-70; B., 

 1-56-2-70 " (Eidgw.). 



Range. — Temperate North America; breeds in the northern United States 

 and British provinces ; south in winter to Mexico. 



Washington, W. V. and rather common T. "V., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, 

 common T. V., Mch. and Apl. ; Oct., some W. V. Sing Sing, tolerably com- 

 mon T. v., Mch. 11 to May 21 ; Oct. Cambridge, common T. V., Mch. and 

 Apl. ; Oct. to Dec. 



Naet, of sticks lined with down, on the ground in the open prairie, on 

 the shores of streams, on tree stumps and sometimes in trees, when a de- 

 serted nest of the Osprey is generally used. Eggs, four to five, buify white, 

 3-50 X 2-35. 



Probably the migration of no bird attracts more universal interest 

 than that of the Wild Goose. Ornithologists talk of " waves " and 

 " flights " of migrants passing in the night, but the biannual pilgrim- 

 age of the Canada Goose appeals to us all with the directness of a per- 

 sonal experience. We see the living wedge of long-necked birds pass- 

 ing high overhead; the unbroken sound-waves bring the sonorous 

 " honks '' with unexpected distinctness to our ears ; and we receive an 

 impressive lesson in the migration of birds. They are embarked on a 

 journey of several thousand miles, but they come and go as surely as 

 though they carried chart and compass. 



17Sa. B. c. hutchinsil {8w. o6 Bich.). Hotchins's Goose. — Resem- 

 bles the preceding in color, but averages smaller. L., 25-00-34-00 ; "W., 14-75- 

 17-75 ; Tar., 2-25-3-20 ; B., 1-20-1-90 (Ridgw.). 



Range. — " North America, breeding in the arctic regions, and migrating 

 south in winter chiefly through the western United States and Mississippi 

 Valley; eastern Asia" (A. 0. D.). 



Long Island, A. V. 



lV2c< B> C. minima Ridgw. Caoklino Goose. — To be distinguished 

 fi-om the two preceding by its smaller size and the much darker brownish- 

 gray color of the breast and upper belly. " W,, 13-eo-14'5p ; Tar., 2-40-2-76; 

 B,,"-95-l-15» (Eidgw.). 



