86 
CANADA GOOSE. 
easily reared and speedily fattened, and brings a 
higher price in the market.* The species is of large 
size, measuring in length above forty inches. The 
head, neck, and upper breast arc black ; the chin 
and throat marked with a white patch which passes 
upon each side in a point behind the auriculars. The 
upper parts are blackish brown ; the feathers edged 
with a paler colour ; quills, tail, and rump black ; 
upper tail-covers white ; fore part of the breast and 
under tail-covers also white ; the sides of the breast 
of a pale brown, the feathers having paler edges ; 
bill, legs, and feet are black. Mr. Yarrell states, 
that the organ of voice is similar in structure to that 
of the mute swan. 
Those are all the British species which enter into 
the typical genus or the true geese, and whose 
stronghold perhaps is Europe and North America. 
The other forms which have been placed in the sub- 
family being all found in other and -warmer coun- 
tries, and consequently (we may almost say) they 
are all aberrant, and are either wanting altogether to 
the British list, or appear as rare examples of insu- 
lated genera. IVc may perhaps exempt the swans 
from these, which also belong in part to temperate or 
northern countries, though their distribution is more 
extended than the geese. 
There are only other two forms which occur in 
our islands. The one, Chenalopex, Mr. Swainson 
thinks, may find a place as a sub-genus in Dendro- 
eygna , or among the Tree Ducks, which are marked 
* Aud., yol. iii. 
