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ANSERIFORMES 
170. Ross’s Goose, scabby-nosed goose, l’oie de boss. Chen rossi. L, 21. A 
small Wavey Goose, hardly larger than a big Mallard. 
Distinctions. Likely to be confused only with the Snow Goose. Besides its decidedly 
inferior size, Ross’s Goose lacks the black “grinning 
patch" of the Snow Goose, and the base of the 
bill in well-grown specimens is rugose and bluish, 
suggesting the popular name of "Scabby-nose” 
(Figure 123, compare with 121). 
Field Marks. A very small, white goose with 
black wing tips. In flight it is not as noisy as the 
Snow Goose. 
Nesting. Unknown. 
Distribution . A goose of interesting and pro- 
blematical distribution. In the spring it passes in 
large numbers through the large lakes of Mackenzie 
district and vanishes towards the north. On the 
southward migration it comes down through the 
more western prairies and crosses the mountains of 
central Montana to the California coast. It occurs 
in British Columbia or Manitoba only as a straggler. 
The general similarity of this species to the Snow Goose, and its small 
size, have probably suggested its identity with the Lesser Snow Goose and 
caused that species to be regarded as the Greater, an incorrect but rather 
natural conclusion for the non-technical observer. 
178. Bicolored Tree-duck, le milouin bicolore. Dendrocygna bicolor. L, 20-5. 
A very long-legged duck, feet reaching beyond end of tail. Head, neck, breast, and under- 
parts uniform, rich, yellowish brown (fulvous), paling on throat to cream, and darkening 
on crown and hindneck. A broad collar, incomplete behind, of dull white and dark brown 
stripes. Back, dark brown barred with slightly rusty feather borders. Tail, dark brown 
with white coverts above and below. Wing coverts, reddish chestnut. 
Distinctions. The only duck so largely and evenly fulvous likely to be met. Legs 
long, feet large, toes extending well beyond tail. 
Field Marks. General fulvous coloration and long legs. Too rare to be recorded in 
Canada on sight identification, except in the most favourable circumstances. 
Nesting. On the ground or in hollow trees near water. 
Distribution. Southwestern United States, Mexico, South America, South Africa, 
and India, north in America to central California. Only one record for Canada, from 
southern Vancouver Island. 
SUBSPECIES. The above species has been determined as the northern race of 
this species the Fulvous Tree-duck (le Milouin du Mexique) Dendrocygna bicolor helva. 
Figure 123 
Bill of Ross’s Goose; natural size. 
Figure 124 
Skin of Fulvous Tree-duck, showing projection of feet beyond tail; 
scale, J. 
Subfamily — Anatinae. River and Pond Ducks 
General Description. Typical ducks with flattened spatulate bills, furnished with 
flat nail tip and straining lamina) or plates along the inner margins (Figure 111, page 68) 
instead of tooth-like projections (Figure 110, page 68). Feet with a small though well- 
formed hind toe, not modified into a flat lobe or fin-like appendage (Figure 125, compare 
with 164). 
Distinctions. The bill will separate the River Ducks from the mergansers; and the 
hind toe as above from the Sea Ducks. 
