The White-fronted Geese 



UNTIL RECENTLY it was supposed that but one variety of the 

 white-fronted goose was to be found in California, but persistent rumors of 

 a very large variety which occasionally appeared in the marshes near the 

 Marysville Buttes in Sutter County led to the discovery of a heretofore 

 unrecognized bird for the state. This larger white-fronted goose was 

 known locally to hunters as the "tule," or "timber goose," and the 

 former name has now been officially applied to it. However, the new 

 bird assumed the scientific name of the common white-fronted goose, 

 which in turn has had to take the name of the European species, from 

 wdiich it does not differ. We thus have among the white-fronted geese 

 three different varieties of like coloration, but of unequal size, just as we 

 have three "editions" of the Canada goose. The tule goose is comparable 

 to the Canada goose, the white-fronted to the Hutchins, and the small 

 Asiatic white-fronted to the cackling goose. 



Why the tule goose did not find a recognized place among the water- 

 fowl of this state many years ago is the more difficult to explain when 

 we consider the extensive hunting by sportsmen and the thorough study 

 of our bird life by naturalists. Even the meager knowledge that we now 

 have shows the tule goose to differ from the white-fronted goose in appear- 

 ance, habits, and call-notes. 



As a rule, tule geese are to be found in small flocks, separated from 

 flocks of the common white-fronted goose, perhaps feeling a little superior 

 to them. In flight the longer neck of the tule goose is quite noticeable 

 as it is silhouetted against the sky. The larger bird frequents the water 

 of the ponds and sloughs surrounded by tule and willows, is more wild, 

 resorts to remote places, and its notes appear to be sufficiently coarse 

 and harsh so that its calls can easily be distinguished by a hunter. This 

 goose is difficult to secure because of its seclusive habits, and because 

 it is not easily decoyed, and this may account in some measure for its 

 rarity. 



In hand, the tule goose is recognized by its large size, comparing in 

 bulk to the honker and weighing from 6}4 to "j}4 pounds before being 

 dressed. The average length of the bill is 57 millimeters, as against 

 48 for the white-fronted goose. All of the specimens thus far examined 

 possessed a conspicuous yellow eyelid when fresh. 



Although all the known specimens of the tule goose have been taken 

 from a limited area in the Sacramento Valley, yet this goose may have a 

 wide distribution in California, and may even be found more abundant 

 in other states. Owing to a lack of specimens of breeding birds, we have 

 not even a limited knowledge of the summer home of this goose. It 

 seems probable that the breeding grounds of this species when found will 

 lie east of those of the white-fronted goose in Alaska, in which case the 



1857 



