3(5 
Branta minima Ridgway 
The Cackling Goose 
(Though no breeding or summering birds are available in this study a large number 
of migrant specimens have been examined in the United States National Museum, the 
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and, especially, a magnificent series in the 
collection of Mr. F. H. Kennard. The selection is probably fairly typical of the form.) 
Museum 
num ber 
Sex 
Ago 
Mid 
toe 
and 
claw 
Tar- 
sus 
Toe 
into 
tar- 
sus 
Oil- 
men 
Depth 
of 
bill 
Depth 
into 
cul- 
men 
Wing 
Wt. 
Mm. 
Mm. 
Mm. 
Mm . 
Mm. 
Mm. 
Mm. 
Lbs 
86614 
U.S.N.M. 
Nushagak, Alaska, Aug. 10, 1881 . 
C? 
Ad. 
60 
66 
1*10 
29 
17 
1-75 
358 
62149 
A.N.S.P. 
Colusa co., Calif., Dec. 4, 1913. . . 
C? 
Ad. 
62 
69 
1-11 
28 
18-5 
1-51 
390 
62148 
A.N.S.C.P- 
“ “ Dec. 5, 1913... 
9 
Ad. 
57 
64 
1-12 
30 
19-5 
1 -55 
365 
F.H.K. 
“ “ Dec. 28, 1912... 
c? 1 
Ad. 
63 
70 
Ml 
28-5 
18-5 
1 -54 
370 
F.H.K. 
Glen co., Calif., Nov. 20, 1928.. 
Ad. 
63*5 
68 
1-07 
27 
19 
1 -42 
330 
2J 
F.H.K. 
Colusa co., Calif,, Dec. 28, 1912. . 
c? 
Ad. 
65 
70 
1-07 
25 
19 
1-31 
375 
F.H.K. 
“ “ Jan. 6, 1913.. 
cF 
Ad. 
65 
70 
1-07 
28- 
21 
1 -33 
390 
F.H.K. 
“ “ Dec. 3, 1929.. 
9 
Ad. 
55 
63 
1 - 14 
29 
17 
1-70 
360 
21 
F.H.K. 
Glen co., Calif., Nov. 20, 1928.. 
9 
56 
64 
1 - 14 
28 
15-5 
1-80 
325 
2i 
18875 
“ “ Feb. 27. 1923.. 
& 
Ad. 
65 
75 
1-15 
30 
19 
1-50 
370 
17507 
Klanmtli Falls, 
Ore., Nov. 24, 1921 
9 
Ad. 
58 
67 
1-15 
27 
18 
1-50 
355 
18874 
Glen co., Calif., Feb. 27, 1923.. 
& 
Ad. 
61 
70 
1-14 
30 
19 
1 -57 
390 
3 
F.H.K. 
Colusa co., Calif., Nov. 28, 1929. . 
& 
Ad. 
60 
70 
1-10 
30 
16 
1-25 
360 
Average 
60-77 
68-15 
Ml 
28-19 
17-76 
1-49 
295-07 
Ad. = Adult. 
Subspecific Characters. Very small size and very dark breast and 
underbody. With hutchinsi the smallest of the Canada geese, not much 
laiger than a mallard, but confined to the vicinity of the west coast and 
never appearing in the interior. Wing 390 mm. or smaller. Weight 
usually under 4 pounds. Culmen 30 mm. or less. Bill short and stubby, 
the depth going into the length from 1-25 to 1*80, averaging 1-49 times. 
Feet small in comparison with tarsus, the middle toe and claw going into 
the tarsus length from 1*07 to 1 * 16, averaging 1*11 times. 
Probably in size and proportions indistinguishable from hutchinsi but 
differing greatly in colour. Breast anti underparts are solidly brownish 
plumbeous — “Hair Brown” of Ridgway’s Color-Nomenclature, Plate 
XLIV — broken when adult only by the broad, squarish, pale feather-tips, 
common to the genus. There is usually much rust-stain on the plumage 
to obscure the basic coloration. The breast darkens markedly towards 
the base of the neck where it blends in more or less completely with the 
black stocking. If a white collar is shown it is always high enough on 
the neck to show an appreciable amount of black below it. 
Young of the year are likely to be much paler breasted in a variable 
degree, but always lack the slight wave marking that crossbars the breast 
and flanks of the adults. Some of these juveniles may be as light in this 
respect as some of the eastern pale-breasted forms, whereas others are 
quite dark. Yearling birds often have intrusions of darker new' plumage 
coming into light breast, suggesting that adult coloration may not be 
