80 
ANSERI FORMES 
across the continent, from coast to coast. East of the Great Lakes there is no present 
indication of regular breeding south of Newfoundland, north shore of the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence, and the vicinity of James Ray, but the Honker nests north to Baffin Island. 
West of the Great Lakes the breeding range is from well south of the International Boundary 
northward indefinitely to where it is replaced as a breeding bird by the Lesser Canada 
Goose (known hitherto as “Hutchin’s Goose”). It is the bird of all British Columbia, 
except the north coastal area where it is replaced by the W hite-cheeked or Western Goose. 
It meets with the Lesser Canada Goose somewhere in the Yukon. 
This is one of the most highly prized game birds of western Canada. 
It is the wisest and wariest of birds and the goose hunter has need of all 
his wiles in its pursuit. 
Western Canada Goose, white-cheeked goose, 
l’outarde canadienne de l’ouest 
Branta canadensis ocddentalis. As large as the Honker (bill, Figure 117a). Originally 
described from a more or less abnormal bird and was supposed to be distinguished by a 
white collar at base of stocking and the intrusion of the black throat between the cheek 
patches. These characteristics, however, are found to be of casual occurrence in the 
other forms, though more common in western than in eastern birds, the term white-cheeked 
is no more applicable to it than to any other race of the species, and the only distinguishing 
characteristic it seems to have is its large size together w r ith very dark, mouse-coloured 
underparts. The damp west coast has a tendency to develop heavy, dark colours in its 
birds. This darkening in colour does not occur in so marked a degree in geese away from 
the coast. The Western Canada Goose breeds along the coast from Queen Charlotte 
Islands (perhaps from Vancouver Island) to Prince William Sound, Alaska. Along the 
British Columbia coast we find the greatest mixtures of plumage among the migrant 
geese. Four Canada goose races occur here in varying degrees of characterization and 
specimens occur that may be referred to two or more subspecies without decided leaning 
towards any one in particular. 
Lesser Canada Goose, calling goose, siiort-necked goose, 
l’outarde canadienne mineure 
There are numerous other names of local usage. This was formerly 
Hutchin’s Goose, but lately it has been discovered that it has no title to 
that name. 
Branta canadensis leucopareia. Wing, 13-15 to 17-25. Bill, 1-25 to 1-7 (Figure 
1 17b). Next in size to the Honker, the same colour with the exception of perhaps a shorter 
black stocking. In life, it is best distinguished, probably, by its voice which is higher and 
sharper, and experienced shooters can recognize it at great distances. In the interior of 
British Columbia and on the prairies it is likely to be confused only with the Honker. 
It does not associate regularly with its big relative, neither will the latter decoy well to 
captive Lesser Canada Geese. This may be merely a demonstration of the clannish 
nature of the species, but it is suggestive of the idea that the apparently slight difference 
between them may be more fundamental than would be gathered from an examination 
of specimens. The Lesser Canada Goose breeds west of Hudson Bay on the barren grounds 
indefinitely northward, and migrates down the west coast and through the interior west 
of the Great Lakes. On the west coast it may intergrade with the Cackling Goose and the 
Western as well as the Honker, and many puzzling specimens may be taken there. 
The Lesser Canada Goose is the common goose in the hunting season 
on the prairies, and takes second place only to the Honker, the larger size 
of which gives it the preference. 
Richardson's Goose ( Hulchin' s Goose of the 1931 Check-List). 
l’outarde CANADIENNE DE RICHARDSON 
Branta canadensis hutchinsi. A very small goose. In migration, in Canada, practically 
confined to Manitoba. It was discovered in 1831, in Hudson Bay, but has for many 
years been disregarded and its name applied to an entirely different bird, which, on the 
facts becoming evident, must now be known as the Lesser Canada Goose. Unfortunately 
the Committee on Nomenclature in the last Check-List of North American Birds saw fit 
to transfer the vernacular name Hutchin’s with the scientific hutchinsi to this newly re- 
discovered form. This gives that name a meaning quite different from that associated 
