ANSERINE — THE GEESE — BERNICLA. 
465 
Although closely resembling the Canada Goose in most respects, except its smaller 
size, its habits are said to be quite different from those of that bird. While the 
canadensis frequents the fresh-water lakes and rivers of the interior, and feeds chiefly 
on herbage, the Hutchinsi is always found on the sea-coast, feeding on the marine 
plants and the mollusca which adhere to them — whence its flesh derives a strong fishy 
taste. In form, size, and general colors of the plumage it more nearly resembles the 
Brant than the Canada Goose. 
According to Mr. Barnston, Hutchins’s Goose arrives at Hudson’s Bay later in 
the season than B. canadensis, and at about the same time as the Snow Goose. It 
is shot in considerable quantities at Albany and elsewhere along the coast of James 
Bay. This bird does not incubate in scattered or detached parties throughout the 
wooded country, but proceeds in large and united flocks to the extreme north, reaching 
Hudson’s Bay about the beginning of May, and at once beginning to feed in the 
salt-marshes among the soft white-rooted grasses, remaining a fortnight or three 
weeks, in company with the “Waveys,” or Snow Geese. By this time the Geese 
are in good plight, and they then take their departure, not reappearing until they 
return with their young broods in the month of September. They are killed in 
less numbers on their passage to Hudson’s Bay than the canadensis, which may be 
accounted for by their habits ; but when once the birds have settled upon their 
feeding-grounds, the slaughter of them is immense. 
Captain James Clark Boss, as quoted by Audubon, states that this species arrives 
in flocks, in the neighborhood of Felix Harbor, about the middle of June, and soon 
disperses in pairs to its breeding-places. At Igloolik, the only place where he had 
previously met with them, their nests were found in the marshes near the sea. But 
on this occasion several pairs constructed their nests on a ledge of rocks near the foot 
of a high precipice ; immediately above them the Dovekies, Loons, and several spe- 
cies of Gulls, and near its summit the Gyrfalcon and Baven, had also built their 
nests. From three to four eggs were found in each nest, of a pure white color and of 
an oval form, measuring 3.10 inches in length by 2.10 inches in breadth. Its flesh 
Mr. Boss pronounces of a most exquisite flavor. 
In Texas, both on the coast and inland, Mr. Dresser found these birds quite 
common. During the winter he shot several on Mitchell’s Bond. The shore hunters 
there are well aware of the difference between this species and the canadensis, calling 
the latter the “Bay Goose,” and the former the “Prairie Goose.” Dr. Merrill also 
mentions this form as being more common than the canadensis. 
Dr. Cooper states that this bird is altogether the most common of the Brant family 
of Geese along the Pacific coast, where it arrives about the first of October, and fre- 
quents both the inland plains and the salt-marshes that border the coast. He thinks 
it goes as far south as San Diego, though he met with none there. It usually feeds 
on the plains early in the morning, and toward noon returns to the water, where it 
rests during the middle of the day and night. Large numbers are shot, both while 
feeding and resting, but the mode of pursuit varies according to circumstances. 
The brush shed and the trained ox are used on the plains ; but in the water a boat is 
required, with which the Geese may be approached very closely under cover of the 
tall weeds. With a large gun twenty or thirty are often killed in two shots, one fired 
while the birds are sitting, the other as they rise. After feeding again in the after- 
noon, the greater part of those in the interior are said to assemble at favorite roosts 
in the wide creeks and sloughs, though many are seen in scattered flocks about the 
marshes. Dr. Cooper is confident he saw this species in the San Joaquin Valley as 
early as September 10, and on the 1 5th he met with a large flock there. Mr. Bidgway 
vol. i. — 59 
