28 
A STUDY OF RRANTA CANADENSIS (Linnaeus) 
THE CANADA GOOSE 
(Based upon breeding or summering specimens) 
By P. A. Taverner 
Illustrations Page 
Plate I. Branta canadensis , the Canada goose 29 
Figure 1. Typical bills of the races of the Branta canadensis group 31 
Of late years much interest has been taken in the characters and 
complex relationships of the various geographical races of Branta canadensis. 
Several attempts have been made at their unravelling, but the difficulties 
involved in dealing with mixed migrant material far from their distinctive 
distributions have been great and it must be admitted that no generally 
acceptable or convincing solution of the problem has yet been presented. 
With the return of Mr. J. Dewey Soper and his collections from Baffin 
island, and with breeding and summering material available in the National 
Museum of Canada, it seems that another attempt can be made with a 
greater prospect of success. The following results may not clear up all 
the disputed points, but they at least give us more accurate data than 
was previously available. 
After studying many specimens in various collections and considering 
the whole subject for a number of years the following confusions can be 
eliminated. 
The fundamental and genetic differences between several of the races 
may be far wider than is evident from a superficial examination of specimens. 
In life, experienced sportsmen have far less difficulty in recognizing the 
various forms of Canada geese than has the systematist with his specimens. 
There are distinctions obvious to the experienced field observer that are 
lacking to the laboratory worker. So marked is this that many shooters 
instinctively regard what seem to the ornithologist to be very closely 
allied races as absolutely distinct and are mildly and somewhat critically 
surprised at any ornithologist thinking otherwise. The differences seem 
to be shown in habit, stance, action, and voice. Unfortunately these 
characteristics that may be distinct enough in life are lost in specimens 
and it seems necessary for the ornithologist to find factors giving rise to them 
or that correlate with the groups so readily distinguished by the laity. 
The occurrence of black or blackish throat streaks separating the 
white cheek patches or the white ring about the base of the black stocking 
are of no systematic significance and can be disregarded in classification. 
The black throat has some sexual associations, as it is usually best de- 
veloped in the male, but females also sometimes show it to a greater or 
less extent. Although both or either of these characters are sporadic and 
may occur in any individual of any race they are of less common occurrence 
in the east than in the west and in canadensis proper than in other races. 
The number of tail feathers is too variable throughout the group to 
be considered racially diagnostic. 
All the geese are subject to rust-staining from the water they inhabit. 
The extensive red and yellowish hue on the under parts, flanks, and even 
the backs, especially of the dark-breasted western forms, is of this purely 
