GEESE 
77 
The Trumpeter was at one time a fairly common migrant in the 
Great Lakes section and a regular nester throughout the prairies and 
British Columbia. Now, only a few small flocks and individual pairs are 
known in British Columbia, Alberta, and in the Yellowstone National 
Park, Wyoming. The causes of its nearly complete disappearance were 
various. It nested in what is now well-inhabited country and it is very 
difficult to retain such a spectacular bird in communities that are much 
shot over. Swans are not prolific and once their number is reduced it takes 
several generations of undisturbed peace to restore them. They are not 
nearly so wild nor so difficult to kill as the still common Whistling Swan. 
The latter migrates in great flocks that pitch out in the middle of the larger 
waters, rarely coming inshore except at night, or when it is perfectly certain 
that there is no danger. In spite of their great numbers, very few Whistling 
Swans are shot. The Trumpeter, on the other hand, travels in smaller 
companies, often family groups, coasts the shore more frequently, often 
passing the hunter’s blind. This difference in habit may have been a 
determining factor in the disappearance of this bird over most of its range, 
where the Whistling Swan has survived. In the early days, the Hudson’s 
Bay Company did a very large trade in swan’s breast skins; the Trumpeter, 
being the larger and more valuable bird and more easily killed, was prob- 
ably cleared from its more northern ranges at an early date. 
At present strenuous efforts are being made to preserve the last 
remaining individuals of this beautiful species. Attempts have been made 
to make reserves of waters they frequent, but they refuse to stay in narrow 
but safe confines and their numbers arc still diminishing. Unfortunately, 
only the stations at the winter end of the migratory range can be reserved, 
the other end is scattered and difficult to protect from occasional intruders. 
A single visit of an irresponsible white or Indian may occur at any time on 
the loneliest lakes of the northland and destroy a small community, and 
it has now come to the point where every pair counts. Naturally, under 
these conditions, exact information as to the localities these birds frequent 
has been kept confidential, but it is also necessary that no information of 
this kind should be lost. All who know of a new station for these birds 
are urged to communicate with the officials responsible for their protection, 
not only to assist them in the present but that the data may be preserved 
until such time as it is safe to publish it more widely. 
Subfamily— Anserinae. Geese 
General Description. Geese resemble ducks, but are larger with a less flattened body 
and comparatively longer legs; bill (Figures 120, 121, 123) is higher and generally somewhat 
narrower at base, stouter and less flattened at tip, hardly to be termed spatulate but with 
the broad nail at tip characteristic of the order. The tarsi of geese are reticulate, that is, 
covered with small, roughly six-sided, mosaic-like plates (Figures 1 16b) instead of scutel- 
late, with broad, overlapping scales (as in the ducks, See Figures 125, page 87, and 164, 
page 109). 
Field Marks. The strong flight of the geese is familiar to most people. Size, color- 
ation, and flight habits are the best field guides. All the dark-coloured geese in flying 
straight away from the observer show a conspicuous white V on the rump, the apex behind. 
Nesting. Generally on the ground. 
Distribution. Geese are of world-wide distribution. All American species but one 
breed well to the north, migrating through the interior as well as along the coasts. 
76916 — 6 
