NATATORES. 



335 



by our friend, Dr. Gustav Hartlaub, Director of the State Museum of 

 the City of Bremen, and one of the most accomplished of European 

 Ornithologists. The American bird is constantly the larger, and the 

 greater length and thickness of the bill is a marked characteristic, as 

 is correctly stated by Dr. Hartlaub, in his description, above cited. 



Dr. Pickering mentions the occurrence of immense numbers of Geese 

 of various species, on the coasts of California and Oregon, in the month 

 of April, and subsequently in October. He particularly mentions the 

 present bird as observed in abundance, and seen either flying in lines 

 generally bifurcating from a point, but frequently irregular, or walking 

 on the ground in search of food. 



Mr. Peale observes of this species : 



" About the middle of October, vast numbers of White-fronted or 

 Laughing Geese arrive in Oregon and California from the north. They 

 are generally found on moist prairies, and feed almost entirely on grass. 

 None were seen that were black, except having patches of that color 

 on the breast. The black color is probably that of the summer plu- 

 mage of adult birds." 



3. Genus BERNICLA, Stephem, Gen. Zool. XII, Pt. II, p. 45 (1824). 



1. Bernicla canadensis [Linn.). — The Canada Goose. 

 The Wild Goose. 



Anas canadensis, LiNN. Syst. Nat, I, p. 198 (1766). 



Buff. PI. Enl. 346; Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXVII; Aud. 

 B. of Am. Plate CCI ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXVL 



Under the head of this species, Mr. Peale says : 



"A few were seen on our journey from the Columbia River to Cali- 

 fornia. Most of that journey was remote from extensive sheets of 

 water, and as this species is more aquatic in its habits than the follow- 

 ing [A. HiUchinsii and A. cdbifrons), this may account for their being 

 seen in the least numbers." 



On account of the fact that no specimens of this bird are in the col- 

 lection of the Expedition, we have admitted it with hesitation, and 



