The Canada Geese 



No. 375b Cackling Goose 



A. O. U. No. 172c. Branta canadensis minima Ridgway. 



Synonyms. — Gray Brant. Least Canada Goose. 



Description. — Similar to B. canadensis, but coloration darker, especially on 

 underparts, — a deep grayish brown abruptly defined against white of crissum; white 

 half-collar at base of black on neck usually more distinct; white cheek-patches usually 

 separated by black stripe, or at least black mottling, on central line of throat, shading 

 into type by insensible gradations; tail normally 14-16-feathered. Length 584.2-635 

 (23.00-25.00); wing 345.4-368.3 (13.60-14.50); bill 24.1-29.2 (.95-1.15); tarsus 61-69.9 

 (2.40-2.75). 



Recognition Marks. — Size of Mallard; gray coloration; smallest of the Canada 

 Geese. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: On the ground, of weeds and 

 grasses, lined with down. Eggs: 4 to 9; dull yellowish white, soon becoming dingy or 

 dull greenish gray. Av. size 76.2 x 50.8 (3.00 x 2.00). Season: May 15-June 15. 



Range of B. c. minima. — Western North America. Breeds in the Aleutian 

 Islands and along the Alaskan coast from the base of the Alaska peninsula north to 

 Norton Sound. Winters along the Pacific slope from British Columbia to southern 

 California. 



Distribution in California. — Common winter resident, chiefly in the Sacra- 

 mento-San Joaquin Valley, but also south to San Diego. 



Authorities. — Cassin (Bemicla leiccoparia), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. 

 xiv., 1862, p. 323 (San Francisco) ; Belding, Zoe, vol. iii., 1892, p. 100 (occurrence in 

 Calif.; dates of arrival and departure, etc.); Swarth, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., vol. xii., 

 1913, p. 1, pis., figs, (occurrence in Calif.; crit., desc, meas., etc.). 



LONG before the eastern tourist found in California an ideal place 

 for his winter sojourn, millions of waterfowl had chosen the great interior 

 valleys of the State for their winter home. Indeed, our histories are full 

 of statements regarding the enormous numbers of waterfowl which 

 annually made their appearance in the State when the northern winter, 

 hoary and foreboding in its approach, drove them southward to more 

 genial climes. 



An easterner, writing about California geese in 1 891, was tempted to 

 say, "I thought that I had seen geese and brant in Dakota, but, like 

 Uncle Toby's reminiscences, they were 'nothing to this.' Snow geese, 

 in white and glistening ranks on the edges of the green grain ; gray geese, 

 wavering up and down in slow-waving flocks against the horizon ; de- 

 liberate geese, only getting up as the train was just upon them; frightened 

 geese, rising on nervous pinions from some sedgy pool by the roadbed, 

 geese, geese, geese! While here and there over the green fields moved 

 men and boys mounted and armed with rifles, actually herding the geese 

 off the sprouting grain . . ." 



From among the many geese which winter with us, a very insignificant 



1867 



