456 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
8. Leucopareia. THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. 
Anser canadensis, Pall. Zoog. R. -A. II. 1826, 230 (nec Linn.). 
Anser leucopareius, Brandt, Bull. Sc. Ac. St. Petersb. I. 1836, 37. 
Bernicla leucopareia, Cass. Illustr. B; Cal. Tex. etc. 1853, 272, pi. 45. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 
xlix. 765 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 568. 
Branta canadensis, var. leucopareia, Coues, Key, 1872, 284 ; Check List, 1873, no. 485 a. 
Branta canadensis, b. leucopareia, Coues, B. N. W. 1874, 554. 
Bernicla canadensis leucoparia, Eidgw. Pt. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 3, 1880, 203 ; Norn. N. Am. B. 1882, 
no. 594 5. — Coues, Check List. 2d ed. 1882, no. 703 (part). 
Hab. Of canadensis proper, temperate North America in general, breeding in the United 
States and British Provinces ; casual in Europe ; occidentals, the northwest coast (California to 
Sitka) ; Hutchinsi, breeding in the Arctic districts, migrating south, chiefly through the Missis- 
sippi Valley and westward ; leucopareia, Pacific coast chiefly, breeding along the coast of Alaska, 
but frequently straying inland during migrations. 
Sp. Char. Adult : Head and neck deep black, the former with a white patch covering the 
throat and extending up over the cheeks to behind the eyes, growing gradually narrower above, 
the upper outline usually more or less truncated, this white patch, however, sometimes interrupted 
on the throat by a narrow black stripe or isthmus. Very rarely, a broad white hand, more or less 
distinctly indicated, crosses the forehead between the eyes. Black of neck frequently bordered 
below by a white collar, more or less distinct. Upper surface grayish brown, varying from almost 
cinereous to umber, each feather bordered terminally by a paler shade ; lower parts with the ex- 
posed surface of about the same shade as the tips of the feathers of the upper parts, the concealed 
portion of the feathers of the shade of the prevailing color above — this much exposed along the 
sides and on the flanks. Primaries and their coverts plain dusky, the former growing nearly black 
terminally. Anal region, crissum, and lower tail-coverts immaculate pure white. Tail plain deep 
black ; rump plain blackish slate. Bill and feet deep black. Young : Similar to the adult, but 
the colors duller, the markings less sharply defined ; black of the neck passing gradually below 
into the grayish of the jugulum ; white cheek patches usually finely speckled with dusky ; light- 
colored tips to the contour-feathers broader. Downy young : Above, including an occipital patch, 
golden olive-green ; beneath, pale-greenish ochre, the head rather deeper. 
Total length, about 20 to upwards of 40 inches ; wing, 13.60-21.00 ; culmen, .95-2.70 ; depth 
of maxilla at base, .60-1.20 ; width, .52-1.20 ; tarsus, 2.10-3.70 ; middle toe, 1.80-3.40. Tail- 
feathers, 13 to 20. 
If, as seems to be the case, all the North American Wild Geese similar to Bernicla canadensis in 
color are of one species, there is probably no feral bird and few domesticated kinds, which vary to 
such great extremes of size. A series of upwards of fifty specimens, carefully measured at the same 
time, gives the above results, the variation amounting to the following percentums of the maxi- 
mum measurements, only adult birds being measured : Wing, 35.24 per cent ; culmen, 64.81 per 
cent ; tarsus, 43.25 per cent ; middle toe, 47.06 per cent. 
The only character which seems to approach constancy is the number of tail-feathers, the smaller 
specimens usually possessing 13 or 14 to 16, and the larger 18 to 20 ; but the number varies with 
the individual, some examples, referable to Hutchinsi on account of size, possessing 18 or more, 
and vice versa. After a very careful consideration of all the facts involved, we feel constrained to 
look upon all the North American Wild Geese resembling B. canadensis in coloration as of one spe- 
cies, no matter what their size may he, it being scarcely possible to define the line between even 
geographical races. The following, however, is an attempt at a subdivision of the species such as 
seems warranted by the material in hand ; but it may be premised that examples not infrequently 
occur which are as properly referable to one as to the other : — 
A. Tail-feathers usually 18 to 20 ; size usually large. 
1. Canadensis. Lower parts much paler than the upper, the light brownish gray some- 
times fading gradually into the Avhite of the anal region ; white cheek-patches usually 
confluent on the throat, and white collar round lower neck in the winter plumage very 
indistinct or obsolete on account of the light color of the jugulum. Wing, 15.60-21.00 
