460 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
mens, having 13 to 16 rectrices, vary in size, so as to lead directly up to the smaller examples, 
possessing 18 to 20 rectrices, : being wholly impossible to separate specimens by size alone. 
The accompanying figures, v’hicli are life-size, are intended to show extreme variations in the 
shape of the bill in this diminutive race. 
There appear to be other variations of this species, w'hich are hardly to be classed as geograph- 
ical races, but which seem to owe their characteristics to hybridization with other species, or to an 
abnormal degree of individual variation. Among these may be classed the — 
Bernicla leucolasma, Murray, White-Frilled Goose, Ed. New Phi. Jour. IX. April, 1859, 226. 
Sp. Char. Similar to the common Canada Goose of the United States in markings, but larger. 
Chin from rami of lower mandible, cravat on sides and beneath the jaws, and extending along 
under side of neck nearly to end of black portion, white, becoming narrower and spotted with 
black ; under eyelid broadly white ; lower part of neck pale dirty lavender, upper part of breast 
paler ; lower part and belly almost white ; or breast and belly pale lavender, with a broad white 
band across breast ; legs brown ; w r eb bright yellow. Length 40.00 inches ; upper mandible, above 
2.50 ; wing, 19.25 ; tarsus, 3.00 ; first phalanx of middle toe, 1.50. 
Differs from B. canadensis in larger size, and plumage paler throughout ; brown replacing black, 
etc. The white of head is more extended, reaching along nearly the whole throat and to lower 
jaw' ; the interdigital spaces yellow, not black, etc. 
Bernicla Barnstonii, Ross, Canad. Nat. VII. 1862, 152 ; Nat. Hist. Review', 1862, p. 28. 
“This bird w r as shot at Fort Simpson (on the Mackenzie). It is of very large size, wdtk the 
breast of a bright fawn-color. The delta of feathers running up into the low'er mandible is white, 
instead of black, as in B. canadensis. The tail is of sixteen feathers. The Indians consider it a 
distinct species from the Canada Goose. It seldom Hies in parties of more than five or six.” 
Bernicla Canadensis. 
Our common Wild Goose has a very extended range throughout the whole of North 
America, occurring from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, and from the At- 
lantic to the Pacific. Abundant upon nearly all the interior waters, it breeds in 
various parts of the country as far south as latitude 42° N., and even farther south 
than this parallel in favorable localities, and throughout all the regions north. 
Richardson found it abundant, in pairs, throughout the Pur Countries up to a high 
parallel of latitude. It associates in flocks only on its first arrival, and feeds on all 
kinds of berries. Early in the spring its crops are found to be filled with the farina- 
ceous astringent fruit of the Elceagnus argentea. The inhabitants of the -wooded and 
swampy districts depend principally upon this Goose for subsistence during the sum- 
mer. It makes its first appearance in flocks of twenty or thirty, and is readily decoyed 
within gunshot by the hunters, who imitate its call. About three weeks after its 
first appearance it disperses in pairs throughout the country to breed, retiring at the 
same time from the shores of Hudson’s Bay. It was found nesting as far north as 
Fort Anderson and the Lower Anderson River ; but the statement of Dr. Richardson, 
that it is not known to breed on the Arctic coast, remains unchallenged. 
In July, after the young birds are hatched, the parents moult, and vast numbers 
are killed in the rivers and small lakes before they are able to fly. When chased by 
a canoe and obliged to dive frequently, this bird soon becomes fatigued, and makes 
for the shore to hide, thus falling an easy prey to its pursuers. In the autumn it 
assembles in flocks on the shores of Hudson’s Bay for a month previous to its depar- 
ture for the south. In its migrations it annually resorts to certain resting-places, some 
of which are frequented both in the spring and autumn, and others only in the spring. 
While on the Saskatchewan it generally builds its nest on the ground ; some pairs 
