1 68 Geese of Europe and Asia 



3. Leucoblepharon canadensis occidentalism somewhat larger than preceding, but with 

 feebler bill (?). North-west littoral of North America, to north of Sitka ; in winter descends 

 to California. Usually on throat a black streak severing white of sides of band. 



Length about 890 mm. ( = about 35 in.). 



Wing 41 1-487 mm. (= 16.25-18 in.). 



Culmen 35.5-41.9 mm. (=1.40-1.65 in.). 



Tarsus 77-82.5 mm. ( = 3.05-3.25 in.). 



Tail-feathers 18 to 20. 



4. Leucoblepharon canadensis minimum [minima). The smallest goose of the group. 

 Pacific littoral of North America, breeding mainly on shores of Norton Bay and on lower 

 waters of Yukon, but extending to Kotzebue Bay and Cape Barrow on the Arctic shore. 

 In winter reaches south to California, and less often to upper part of Mississippi valley. 

 Strays to Sandwich and Laysan Islands. 



Length 584-635 mm. (23-25 in.). 



Wing 345-368 mm. (= 13.60-14.50 in.). 



Bill ........ 24-29.2 mm. ( = 0.95-1. 1 5 in.). 



Tarsus ........ 61-70 mm. ( = 2.40-2.75 in.). 



Tail-feathers 14 to 16. 



Along throat a longitudinal streak, separating the white patches of side of head, 

 mostly present. 



According to the statements of American authors, we find that the Pacific seaboard of 

 North America is inhabited by four sub-species, or varieties, of the Canadian goose — a 

 circumstance which is so far from agreeing (or, more exactly, is in contradiction) with my 

 idea of a species that, notwithstanding all the authority of American ornithologists, and my 

 great faith in Count Salvadori's knowledge, I am unable to accept it. 



On the other hand, the lack of material renders it impossible for me to clear up this 

 difficult question, the more so that this would require very extensive data from the most 

 various points in the range of each of these forms. Count Salvadori, in his Catalogue of the 

 Birds in the British Museum (vol. xxvii.), expresses himself as follows: "I have not been 

 able to recognise more than two species — one (B. canadensis) extremely variable in size, and 

 found nearly all over N. America ; and a second, very much smaller and not very variable in 

 size, confined to Alaska during the breeding season, but, according to American authors, 

 extending to California in winter." 



So far as I can make out, American ornithologists separate these four forms of the 

 Canadian goose by the measurements of different parts of the body, and only partially by the 

 colouring of the plumage, while it seems to me that in the given case the two characters 

 together hardly suffice for the purpose. On the whole, the question as to the existence of 

 the different forms of the Canadian goose seems to me as obscure and confused as was 

 formerly that of the bean goose (Melanonyx), and, in a lesser degree, that of the grey geese 

 {Anser). 



If we recall that European ornithologists were in such doubt about these geese for 

 more than a century, are we not justified in admitting the possibility of a like situation at 

 present in regard to the geese of the genus Leucoblepharon in North America? 



Were any definite characters, except dimensions and colouring of plumage, for each 

 separate form of the above-mentioned geese given by American authors, our doubts as to 

 the truth of their view would be considerably diminished. At the present moment, however, 



