298 



NOKTH AMEKICAN FAUNA. 



fxo. 27 



miles nearer their breeding grounds. Thus they press onward, close 

 on the heels of retreating winter, feeding, when suitable open water 

 is denied them, on the various berries which have remained on the 

 stems through the winter. 



Pursuing the course of the river northward, the next favorite goose 

 ground is the delta of the Slave, where great numbers stop both 

 spring and fall for rest and food. The low country about the outlet 

 of Great Slave Lake is also a favorite resort. Leaving this point, 

 the geese in spring take a general northerly course, which suggests 

 that their breeding grounds are north of the east end of Great Bear 

 Lake. Most of the specimens which I have examined were taken on 

 this line of flight. Most of them prove referable to hyperhorea^ but 

 an occasional large specimen must be referred to nivalis. It thus 

 appears that this line of flight lies not far west of the imaginary 

 line dividing the two races, which in this region may be roughly 

 represented by the longitude of 118°. It must be understood that 

 much more material is needed to settle definitely this question, but for 

 present purposes the records may be divided in accordance with this 

 plan. 



It seems desirable to place on record the measurements of a few 

 prepared specimens, as well as those of a number of birds which I was 

 able to examine hastily, but could not preserve. An adult male taken 

 on Great Bear Lake, east of Leith Point, September 7, 1903, measured 

 as follows : Wing 422 mm., exposed culmen 60 mm. A male and fe- 

 male, evidently young of the year, taken at the same time meas- 

 ured, respectively: wing 445, culmen 63 ; wing 419, culmen 51. These 

 birds would seem to be intermediate between liyferhorea and nivalis^ 

 though perhaps nearer liyperhorea. I took measurements also of a 

 number of birds shot at Willow Kivei", near Fort Providence, about 

 September 25, 1903. The sex of these birds could not be determined, 

 but the measurements and the few notes taken are here given: (1) 

 Adult, wing 430, culmen 50; (2) young of the year, wing 400, culmen 

 50; (3) young of the year, wing 405, culmen 56; (4) young of the 

 year, wing 415, culmen 56; (5) evidently adult, head yellowish, bill 

 reddish with white nail, feet and legs yellowish, wing 400, culmen 

 55; (6) similar to No. 5, w^ing 400, culmen 53; (T) similar to No. 5, 

 wing 425, culmen 58. They may safely be referred to hyperhorea^ 

 as may also a specimen in the National Museum, taken many years 

 ago at Big Island, Great Slave Lake, by John Reid, which measures : 

 wing 395, culmen 52. 



In 1903 I saw a flock of about 40 on the south shore of Great 

 Bear Lake, to the eastward of Leith Point, September T, and secured 

 three individuals, one of which was preserved. Their measurements 

 have already been given. They had been feeding almost exclusively 

 on the crowberries {Empetrum nigrum) ^ which grow luxuriantly on 



