458 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
The specimen described above is an average representative of the typical form of Bernicla cana- 
densis, known to hunters usually as the “ Big Wild Goose.” The distribution of this form is some- 
what uncertain, but it apparently prevails in the region around Hudson’s Bay, and the United 
States generally, breeding as far south at least as the parallel of 40°, but now rare, except during 
the migrations, east of the Mississippi Valley. 
Two specimens in the collection (Nos. 20116, Fort Simpson, May, 1860 ; B. R. Ross — U B. 
Barnstonii” on original label — and 53691, Truckee Meadows, Nev., Nov. 5, 1867 ; R. Ridgway) 
have a well-defined band across the forehead, between the eyes, of speckled white and dusky. A 
specimen formerly in the collection, but destroyed by insects, somewhere from the high north, had 
this band unspotted white ! No. 9954, Rio Rita Laguna, New Mexico, has the entire lower parts 
stained with reddish ochraceous, this being perhaps merely a discoloration from contact with ferru- 
ginous clay. Among the variations of this large race of the Canada Goose are perhaps to be ranged 
the Bernicla leucolcema, or White-frilled Goose of Murray, and the B. Barnstoni, or Barnston’s Goose 
of Ross, descriptions of which are given farther on (see p. 460). 
/3. occidentals. — Larger White-cheeked Goose. 
Adult (No. 5994, Port Townsend, Washington Territory ; Dr. Suckley) : Throat speckled with 
black medially, indicating an isthmus, not complete enough, however, to separate the white of the 
opposite cheeks ; black of the neck bordered below and in front by a collar of pure white, abruptly 
defined against the dark grayish brown of the 
jugulum. Plumage generally, dark grayish 
umber, the paler terminal borders to the feath- 
ers very inconspicuous, the lower parts scarcely 
paler than the upper, and abruptly defined 
against the pure white of the crissum. Wing, 
18.00 inches ; culmen, 1.65 ; tarsus, 3.05 ; 
middle toe, 2.75. Tail-feathers, 18. 
No. 66615, Puget Sound, Dr. Kennerly, 
differs in lacking the white collar ; No. 46228, 
Sitka, May, 1866, F. Bischoff, is like the last, 
but preserves a trace of the white collar. No. 
23238, San Francisco, Cab, April, 1861, F. Gru- 
ber, is considerably smaller, measuring, wing, 
16.25 inches; culmen, 1.40; tarsus, 3.25 ; and 
middle toe, 2.50. In coloration it is quite pe- 
culiar : the very broad and continuous white 
collar extends entirely around the neck, though 
it is somewhat interrupted behind ; while be- 
low, it is bordered by a very dark-brown collar, 
which is nearly black at the edge of the white, 
but fading off gradually into the ash of the 
jugulum, which is considerably paler than in the 
foregoing examples. The feathers of the neck all appear to be white below the surface. 
As in the leucopareia, the seasonal differences of plumage are well marked in this race. The 
white collar belongs only to fall and winter birds, in which the brown tints are darker and more 
of an umber cast. As spring advances, the white gradually disappears, and in midsummer is 
entirely obsolete, this change taking place without moulting of the feathers. 
y. Hutchinsi. — Hutchins’s Goose. 
Adult (No. 49829, $ , Nulato, Lower Yukon, Alaska, May 9, 1867 ; W. H. Dall) : Exactly 
like typical canadensis in colors. Wing, 16.35 inches ; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.90 ; middle toe, 
2.10. Tail feathers, 15. 
In a large series of specimens, the following variations are noted : The ashy beneath varies from 
the pale tint of canadensis to the dark shades of leucopareia and occidentals, but is usually about 
