LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS 



172. Canada Goose. Branta canadensis 

 cuJiadeJisis . 



Range. — The wliole of North .Vuieriea, hreediiig 

 from uorthern United States noit.liwnrd, <ind win- 

 tering In the southern parts 01 t!ie United States. 



This species is the most widely Isnown of Amer- 

 ican Ueese and is tlie most abundant. Its familiar 

 "honk" has long been regarded as the signal of 

 the coming of spring, and the familiar V-shaped 

 formation in wliicli the flocks migrate is always 

 an ob.iect of interest to everyone. With the ex- 

 ception of in North Dakota and Minnesota, they 

 breed chiefly north of the United States. They 

 construct quite a large nest of weeds and grass, 

 and warmly line it with down and feathers. 

 They lay from four to nine eggs of a buff or drab 

 color. Size about 3.50 x 2.50. Data. — Ellingsars 

 Lake, North Dakota, May 18, 1896. Five eggs. 

 Nest on an Island in the lake, constructed of 

 weeds and trash, and lined with a few feathers. 

 Collector, Edwin S. Bryant. 



172a. HuTciiiNS Goose. Branta canadensis 

 Juitchinsi. 



This sub-species is like the preceding except 

 that it is smaller, thirty inches in length. It is 

 a wcstorn variety, breeding in Alaska and along 

 the Arctic coast and wintering to southern Cali- 

 fornia. Its breeding habits, nests and eggs are 

 the same as the common goose except that the 

 eggs are smaller. Sibe 3.00 x 2.05. 



172b. White-ciieekeu Goose. Branta cana- 

 densis occidentalis. 



This bird is about the same size as the Canada 

 Goose and the plumage is very similar except 

 that the black sometimes extends on the throat, 

 thereby isolating the white cheek patches, and 

 there is a white collar below the back of the neck. It is a western species, 

 breeding in Alaska and wintering along the Pacific coast of the United States. 

 Its nesting habits and eggs are same as those of the Canada Goose except that 

 I he latter are a trifle smaller. 



C"anrL(l;t Cn 



' 'a^/kling- Goose 



172c. Cackling Goose. Branta canadensis minima. 



This bird is really a miniature of the Canada Goose, being but twenty-four 

 inches in length. It breeds in Alaska and along the Arcti.c coast and migrates 

 into the western parts of the United States. They are abundant birds in their 

 Ijreeding range, where they place their nests upon the shores of ponds, or on 

 islands in inland rivers or lakes. The nests are made of weeds and grasses, 

 lined with down. The eggs which are buff colored, number from four to nine 

 and are laid during June and July. Size 2.30 x 1.95. 



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