306 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[ NO. 27. 



monton, on June 8, and Avliile returning to Edmonton saw large 

 flocks about Lake Ste. Anne on November 3, 4, and 5. 



A skin referable to this species, collected by B. K. Ross at Fort 

 Simpson, May 13, 1860, is now in the National Museum. It is labeled 

 ' Bernicla Barnstord^ and is in all probability the type of that nom- 

 inal species. The spring dates of arrival of this species at Lac du 

 Brochet Post, Eeindeer Lake, as observed by J. Hourston for the 

 years 1874 to 1889. inclusive, are incorporated in a table given on 

 page 22. The spring dates of arrival at Fort Chipewyan, for a num- 

 ber of years, appear in a table on page 23. 



Branta canadensis hutchinsi (Rich.). Hutchins Goose. 



This form breeds mainly in the Barren Grounds, associating in 

 migration to a considerable extent with B. canadensis. A flock of 

 about 30 was seen on the Athabaska, 50 miles below Fort McMurray, 

 May 15, 1901. A number of small geese, probably referable to this 

 form, Avere seen among flocks of Canada geese near Fort Chij)ewyan 

 on May 23, and at Smith Landing on June 16 of the same year. In 

 1903 I first met Avith this species on the shores of Great Bear Lake 

 east of Leith Point, where a few were noted August 29, and a large 

 flock was seen August 30. They had alighted on the shore near our 

 camp to feed on the berries of Empetrum nigrum^ which grew there 

 in great luxuriance. Two were shot, but were not preserved. One, a 

 male, had 16 tail feathers and wings measuring 445 mm. ; the other 

 was slightly smaller. Small flocks were seen near McVicar Ba}" on 

 September 10 and 11. The sjDecies was last noted on the Mackenzie 20 

 miles above Fort AYrigle}^ October 12, when a single bird, identified 

 by its small size, was observed. 



In 1904, though it was probably present among flocks of Canada 

 geese seen late in May, this form was positively identified only on 

 the lower Mackenzie. A small flock, comprising two or three family 

 parties, was seen a short distance below the site of old Fort Good 

 Hope June 28, and an adult male and downy 3^oung were taken. 

 Several adults referred to the same form were seen on the lower Mac- 

 kenzie and Peel rivers June 30 and July 1. At Fort McPherson I 

 was informed that the birds had arrived there on May 11. 



J. C. Ross recorded this goose from Felix Harbor, Boothia, where 

 it arrived about the middle of June and bred commonly.'^ Thomas 

 Simpson noted it at Fort Confidence on May 17, 1838;* the last had 

 been seen near Cape McDonnel on September 25 of the previous 

 year.^ Richardson states that many were seen near Bloody Fall, 



« App. to Ross's Second Voyage, p. xli, 1S35. 



* Narrative Discoveries on North Coast of America, p. 241, 1843. 

 ^ Ibid., p. 198, 1843. 



