GEESE 



(172) Branta canadensis cana= 

 densis 



{Linn.) (Gr., Tor some water bird). 



CANADA GOOSE; WILD 

 GOOSE. Bill and feet black. Ads.— 

 Plumage as shown. Im. — Similar but 

 throat and cheeks more or less mixed 

 with black. L., 38.00; W., 19.00; B., 

 2.00; T., 7.00; Tar., 3.25. Ncsl — Of 

 sticks, weeds and grass, lined with 

 feathers; four to ten buffy-drab eggs, 

 3.50 X 2.50. 



Range — Breeds from Kecwatin 

 and the lower Yukon River south to 

 Ind., Neb. and Ore. Winters from 

 N. J., Ind. and E. C. southward. 



(172a) B. c. hutchinsi [Rkh.) 

 HUTCHIN'S GOOSE, a smaller 

 western sub-species (L., 30.00; W., 

 16.00; 'B., 1.60); winters in the Miss. 

 Valley. 



CANADA or WILD GEESE are really the kings of 

 American water fowl. They are favorites with every one; 

 the nature-lover looks with longing eyes for the first, long, 

 thin wavering line, and listens intently for the first honking 

 that indicates the approach of spring; the true sportsman 

 knows no better sport than the stalking of these wary birds; 

 and the gourmand knows no better dish than a properly 

 roasted goose. Stalking, however, is too arduous a game for 

 the ordinary gunner, and does not bring sufhciently great 

 returns. He prefers to build him a blind along the route 

 to their chosen feeding ground, or an ambush on the shore of 

 a favorite resting pond, from which he can pot them as they 

 settle among the living decoys which he anchors near at hand. 



During migrations flocks of Wild Geese, numbering from 

 ten to thirty individuals, spread out in a wide V, with some 

 sagacious old gander at the apex, breaking the wind for his 

 followers, each of which is partially shielded by the one 

 preceding. They fly high except when looking for a suitable 



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