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Cackling, it does not seem that this identification is justified; therefore, 
it is better to accept them for the present as small hutchinsi. 
Hutchins’s is the common Goose in the hunting season on the prairies, 
and takes second place only to the Honker, the larger size of which gives 
it the preference. 
Cackling Goose 
Branta canadensis minima. The smallest of the Canada Geese, at times scarcely 
larger than a large Mallard: wing, 13-27 to 16-60; bill, 1-01 to 1-44 (Figure 143c). In 
colour like the preceding, but usually with dark mouse-coloured underparts. The most 
distinctive character, however, seems to be that the tarsus is slightly longer than the middle 
toe and claw. The voice is still higher and sharper than that of Hutchins’s Goose, of a 
quality that has suggested the name “Cackling” and the local name of ‘ Squealer” in 
California. The Cackling Goose is a west-coast bird. Its breeding range is not very 
well known, but thought to be in western Alaska near the Bering seacoast. It migrates 
mostly down the coast, but also in smaller numbers through the interior west of the moun- 
ains, and winters south of British Columbia. 
White-cheeked Goose, western Canada goose 
Branta canadensis ocddentalis. As large as the Honker. Originally described from 
a more or less abnormal bird and was supposed to be distinguished by a white collar at 
base of stocking and the intrusion of the black throat between the cheek patches. These 
characteristics, however, are found to be of casual occurrence in the other forms, though 
more common in western than in the eastern birds, and the only distinguishing characteristic 
it seems to have is its large size together with very dark mouse-coloured underparts. The 
damp west coast has a tendency to develop heavy, dark colours in its birds. This darkening 
in colour does not occur in so marked a degree in Geese away from the coast. The White- 
cheeked Goose breeds along the coast from the Queen Charlotte islands to Prince William 
sound, Alaska. Along the British Columbia coast we find the greatest mixtures of plum- 
age among the migrant Geese. All four Canada Goose races occur here in varying degree 
of characterization and specimens occur that may be referred to two or more subspecies 
without decided leaning towards any one in particular. 
The Canada Goose as a species is a watchful and a wary bird, usually 
spending the day well out on open water or in marshes, coming in at 
night to feed on the fields and stubble. While so engaged, there is always 
one long neck upstretched to survey the surroundings, and unobserved 
approach by the most expert stalker is next to impossible. On this account 
it has probably suffered less from hunters than some other members of its 
family, although its original numbers have been reduced. So long as its 
remaining breeding-grounds in the far north remain uninvaded, and it is 
not seriously disturbed on its southern winter feeding stations, there is 
little danger of its extermination. In spite of this satisfactory condition 
of the species as a whole, the existence of the most desirable and interesting 
form of all, the Honker, is threatened, especially in the west. This fine 
bird breeding on the prairies in the midst of cultivation is particularly 
exposed to the destructive influence of civilization and at the present rate 
of decrease it will be but a few years before we will speak of it as a prairie 
breeder in the past tense only. How far north these conditions will eventu- 
ally extend there is no way to foretell, but the more optimistic we are 
for the future and expansion of the Dominion, the greater is the warrant 
for pessimism. Until we have a resident population that will permit of 
such a fine bird as this living, nesting, and raising its young in unmolested 
proximity, the future of the Honker on the prairies is far from secure. 
