40 
intraspecific intergrades or extraspecific hybrids is not clear. That minima 
and leucopareia breed in comparative juxtaposition on the Bering sea 
coast without general mongrelization as described by Conover (The Auk, 
XLIII, 1926, 174), and that hutchinsi and canadensis do the same on 
Baffin island as determined by Soper in 1929, is strongly indicative if 
not finally determinative of specific distinction between these little geese 
and their larger relatives. That there is no indication or geographical 
opportunity for intergradation between minima and hutchinsi would 
equally separate them from each other. I, therefore, propose that they 
be treated as full and distinct species. 
Though occidentalis is undoubtedly only a subspecies of canadensis, 
the status of leucopaeria is less evident. The difference between it and 
canadensis may possibly be much greater and more constant than specimens 
show or systematists suspect, but with our present lack of definite evidence 
it seems wisest to allow it only subspecific standing. 
The group will then appear in our lists as follows: 
Branta canadensis (Linnaeus), the Canada goose 
Branta canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus), the honker or eastern Canada goose 
Branta canadensis occidentalis (Baird), the western Canada goose 
Branta canadensis leucopaeria (Brandt), the lesser Canada goose 
Branta minima Ridgway, the cackling goose 
Branta hutchinsi (Richardson), Richardson’s goose 
Literature Cited 
American Ornithologists Union Committee: 1910 Check-list of North American Birds. 
Anderson, R. M.: “The Birds of Iowa”: Proc, Davenport Acad. Sri., XI, March 1927, 
pp. 188-189. 
Bent, A. C.: “Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl, Order Anseres, Part II”; 
Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 130, 1925. 
Brandt, N.: “Note sur l’Anser canadensis et l’Anser pictus de la Zoographie de Pallas”; 
Bull. Sci. Acad. St. Petersbourg, I, 1836, p. 37. 
Descriptions et Incones Animalium Rossieorum Novorum Aves, fasculus I, 
1836, p. 13, PI. II. 
Brooks, Allan: “Notes on the Geese of the Branta Canadensis Group”; Ibis 1926, pp. 336-346. 
Conover, H. B.: “Game Birds of the Hooper Bay Region, Alaska”; Auk. XLIII, 1926, 
pp. 162-180. 
I'iggins, J. D.: “Additional Notes of the Status of the Subspecific Races of Branta Cana- 
densis”; Proc. Colo. Mus. of Nat. Ilist., IV, No. 3, pp. 1-18 (1922). 
“Some Observations Relative to Hybrids and Intergrades”; Ibid, V, No. 1, 
June 1925, pp. 3-11. 
“Twice-told Tales”; Ibid, V, No. 3, Oct. 1925, pp. 23-31. 
Hartert, Dr. Ernst.: “Die Vogel du Palaarktischen Fauna”; Band II, 1912-1921, p. 1297. 
Richardson, John: “Fauna Boreali-Americana”; Aves, 1831, p. 470. 
Salvador!, T. : Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, XXVII, 1895, p. 114. 
Soper, J. D.: “A Faunal Investigation of Southern Baffin Island”; Nat. Mus. of Canada, 
Ottawa, Canada, Bull. 53, Biol. Ser. 15 (1928). 
MS. and verbal notes on 1929 expedition to southeastern Baffin island, the former 
in preparation for publication. 
Stejneger, L. : “Results of Ornithological Expedition in the Commander Islands and in 
Kamtschatka”; Bull. 29, U.S. Nat. Mus. 1885. 
Swarth, H. S. : “A Study of a Collection of Geese of the Branta Canadensis Group from the 
San Joaquin Valley, California”; tlniv. of Calif. Pub. in Zool., vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 1-24 
(1913). 
