688 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS, —LAMELLIBOSTKES— ANSERES. 
abruptly from the black, fading on the belly and crissum into white, shaded along the sides 
of the body ; upper parts brownish-gray, the feathers of the dorsal region with paler gray 
tips ; rump darker ; upper tail-coverts white. Tail-feathers, wing-quills, and primary-coverts 
blackish, the inner quills whitish toward base. Length 24.00; extent 48.00; wing 13.00 ; 
tail 4.50; bill 1.33; tarsus 2.25; middle toe and claw about the same. Europe. In North 
America, chiefly along the Atlantic Coast, being more maritime than other U. S. geese, but 
still found inland on the great lakes and rivers. U. S. only in winter, and during the migra- 
tions, when abundant. Breeds in high latitudes, to the Arctic Coast. 
701. B. b. nig'ricans. (Lat. m(7?-*caws, being blackish. Fig. 476.) Black Brant. Similar to the 
last ; black of jugulum extending over most of under parts, fading on belly and crissum, without 
abrupt line of demarcation on breast; white neck-patches usually larger and meeting in front. 
Size of the last. Both coasts ; very abundant on the Pacific side, not common on the Atlantic. 
Migrations and breeding resorts the same. 
702. B. canaden'sis. (Of Canada. Fig. 477-) Canada Goose. Common Wild Goose. Tail nor- 
mally 18 - feathered. 
Bill, feet, head, and 
neck black ; on the chin 
a broad white patch 
mounting on sides of 
head behind eyes, some- 
times broken on chin ; 
not extending forward 
to jaws ; white touches 
usually on eyelids. Up- 
per tail-coverts definite- 
ly white ; rump black- 
ish; tail-feathers black. 
General color brown- 
ish-gray, paler or more 
ashy-gray below, all 
the feathers with paler 
gray or whitish edges, 
those of sides of body 
usually darker than 
rest of under parts, the 
lower belly and crissum 
definitely white. Iris 
brown. Length 3 feet 
Fig. 477. — Canada Goose. (From Lewis.) or more ; extent 5 feet ; 
wing 18-20 inches ; tail 7.00 ; tarsus 3.00-3.50; middle toe and claw more; bill about 2.00. 
N. Am. at large. This is the most generally distributed and on the whole the most abundant 
goose of our country. It breeds in various parts of the U. S., sometimes in trees, but the 
greater number of individuals pass further north to nest. Eggs 5 to 9, usually 5 or 6, ellip- 
soidal, smooth, pale dull greenish, about 3.50 X 2.50. 
702a. B. c. occidenta'lis. (Lat. occidentalis, western.) Larger White-cheeked Goose. Similar 
to the last ; of equal size, and tail 18-feathered. Coloration averaging darker than in the last, 
the under parts especially, against which the white of the anal and crissal region is well-defined. 
Black of neck bounded below in front by a white half-collar. Bill averaging shorter, and 
tarsus relatively longer. The best samples are well marked ; others shade into the common 
form. Pacific coast, especially Alaska. (The bird here indicated is B. occidentalis Bd. Whether 
