16 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



and most of the secondaries and the scapulars, white ; the latter narrowly edged ex- 

 ternally with black. Rest of upper parts, except as described, black ; passing grad- 

 ually on the upper tail coverts into pale gray , axillars and under wing coverts sooty 

 brown, more or less tipped with white; iris brown. 



Female with the entire head, neck, and upper parts almost black. An elongated 

 patch behind and below the eye (not reaching it). The outer webs of some secon- 

 daries, and the under parts white; the jugulum, sides, and anal region, plumbeous- 

 gray. 



Length, 15 inches; wing, 6.65; tarsus, 1.25; commissure, 1.44. Female smaller 

 than male ; young males very similar to females. 



Hab. North America ; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico. Breeds from Maine 

 northward ; through the fur countries and Alaska. 



This beautiful little Duck, commonly called Butter-ball, is fre- 

 quently met with during migrations about our rivers and mill-ponds. 

 This species is, however, much more common in autumn than during 

 the winter and spring. The Bume-head, like the Grebe and Loon, 

 will dive at the flash of a gun and swim, it is said, under the water 

 with only its bill above the surface. Audubon says : " Their food is 

 much varied, according to situation. On the sea-coast, or in estua- 

 ries, they dive after shrimps, small fry, and bivalve shells, and in fresh 

 water they feed on small cray-fish. leeches and snails, and even 

 grasses." In the stomachs of five of these Ducks, which I have ex- 

 amined, were found small shells and coleopterous insects. 



SUBFAMILY ANSERINE. GEESE. 

 GENUS BRANTA. SCOPOLI. 

 172. Branta canadensis (LiNN.). 



Canada Goose. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Tail of eighteen feathers ; head, neck, bill and feet, deep-black ; a large triangular 

 patch of white on the cheeks behind the eye ; the two of opposite sides broadly con- 

 fluent beneath, but not extending to the rami of lower jaw ; a few whitish feathers 

 on lower eyelid ; upper parts brown, edged with paler ; under parts light, with a 

 tinge of purple-gray, sometimes a shade of smoky-brown ; the edges of the feathers 

 paler ; the color of the body of the feathers, though similar, becoming deeper on the 

 sides, tibia, axillars, and inside of wings ; the gray of the belly passes gradually into 

 white on the anal region and under coverts ; the upper tail coverts are pure-white ; 

 the primary quills and rump are very dark blackish-brown ; the tail feathers are 

 black ; iris brown. 



Length, 35 inches ; wing, 18; tarsus, 3.10; commissure, 2. 10 inches. 



Ha b. Temperate North America, breeding in the northern United States and 

 British Provinces ; south in winter to Mexico. 



This well-known bird, usually called Wild Goose, is a common 

 spring and fall migrant in Pennsylvania. In this locality Wild Geese 

 are rarely observed resting either on land or water, but are almost 

 always seen or heard flying. 



In referring to this species, Wilson says : " The flight of the Wild 

 Geese is heavy and laborious, generally in a straight line, or in two 



