GEESE 
79 
Distribution. Across the continent, migrating commonly everywhere in the interior 
and on the coast. Breeding in the east from the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence 
and in the west from south of our boundary, indefinitely northward. 
SUBSPECIES. Although a very well known bird to the sportsman and the general 
public, few species have been so little understood by either ornithologist or layman. It 
has considerable individual as well as geographic variations, which have to be carefully 
distinguished if sound conclusions as to racial affinities are to be arrived at. 
Various slight colour differences between individuals are evident. 
The cheek patches may or may not meet across the throat and there may 
be a more or less complete white collar around the neck at the bottom of 
the black stocking. These variations may occur in any form, but seem 
rather more common in birds of the west than of the east. The only colour 
distinction that seems to have connexion with distribution is the depth of 
colour of the underparts. Eastern and interior birds have light fawn or 
almost cream-coloured breasts and abdomen. Those of the west coast 
are likely to be deep mouse colour. This seems to be the most distinctive 
character of the White-cheeked or Western Goose and the Cackling 
Goose, the only ones that are appreciably differentiated by colour. This 
dark coloration seems to have been transferred to west coast Lesser Geese 
through interbreeding with the dark-breasted forms. Based on these 
characters and upon size, several subspecies have been generally recognized, 
but it was not until the rediscovery of a very small race from Hudson Bay 
that a hitherto unrecognized or rather a forgotten race was introduced 
into the series, which demonstrated that the old name hutchinsi (Hutchin’s 
Goose) had been consistently misapplied for many years. The Canada 
Goose seems to stand about as follows: 
Common Canada Goose, gray goose, honker, 
l’outarde canadienne commune 
Branta canadensis canadensis. The largest of the American geese, weighing up to 
12 to 14 pounds or even more. Wing, 15-70 to 20. Bill, 1*9 to 2*3 (Figure 117a). The 
black stocking is long and extends down to the base of the neck, in the Lesser it is shorter. 
The Honker is perhaps best recognized by its deep, sonorous voice. Its range extends 
Typical bills of the various forms of Canada Goose: 
a, Honker and Western Geese. 
b, Lesser Canada Goose. 
c, Cackling and Richardson’s Geese. 
Natural size. 
76916—61 
