68 WATER FOWL. 



and wide sheets of water, which during all the 

 dreary months have echoed with the stirring calls, and 

 been enlivened by the moving, active figures of these 

 gamy birds, will lie silent and in many instances de- 

 serted, until with the chill winds of another autumn are 

 heard the joyful cries of the returning squadrons, recog- 

 nizing again their winter home. 



This species has very many trivial names, and besides 

 those already employed, is called by some Cravat Goose, 

 Bay Goose, Black-headed Goose, Reef Goose, and Gray 

 Goose, while in Louisiana it is known as Outarde. 



BRANTA CANADENSIS. 



Geographical Distribution. — Throughout North America, 

 from the Arctic Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific Ocean. Breeds in Northern United States and 

 throughout the Arctic regions, mainly east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. 



Adult. — Head and neck, black. A triangular white patch on 

 each cheek, extending over the throat, sometimes divided on the 

 latter by a black line. Upper parts, dark brown, the feathers 

 tipped with light brown. Primaries, rump, and tail, black. Lower 

 parts gray or brownish gray passing gradually into the white of 

 the anal region. Upper and under tail coverts, white. Bill, legs, 

 and feet, black. Iris, brown. Tail feathers from 18-20. Individ- 

 uals vary greatly in size, but the average will be somewhat as 

 follows : Total length, 38 inches; wing, 18; tarsus, 3; culmen, 2\. 

 Young. — Similar to adult, but the white cheek patches are 

 speckled with black, and the black neck grades into the grayish 

 hue of the upper part of the breast. 



Downy Young. — Patch on occiput and upper parts, olive 

 green; under parts, light greenish ochre. 



