A YEAR WITH TI-IE BIRDS 
673 
Old Squaw: Clangula hyemalis. R. 
The Old Wife 
Length: Depending on the tail development, up to 23 inches. 
Male : In zvinter, head and neck white, with gray cheeks; above varied 
with black and white. Breast blackish; belly white. Four 
middle tail feathers blackish and very long. Wings grayish; no 
speculum. Bill black, tipped with orange ; feet dark. 
Female: Dusky brown, paler on throat, whitish below. White patch 
around eye and on side of neck. 
Season: Common winter resident. 
Breeds: Far north. 
A clamoring, noisy Duck, but also having a sonorous musi- 
cal voice. It has the same habit of diving as the Bufflehead, 
and is even less particular about its food than the last two 
species. It locates usually on the reedy creek bars and inlets 
from Long Island Sound. Dr. Cones says it frequents large 
inland waters ; and Professor Koch, that it is a visitor on the 
Susquehanna River in April. 
Subfamily Anserinae: Geese 
Canada Goose : Branta canadensis. R. 
Wild Goose 
Length: 3 feet or more. 
Male and Female: Dark ash; head, neck, and tail black; cheeks and 
throat white; bill and feet black. Short, rounded tail of pointed 
feathers. Wings dark brownish with paler edges. Below a 
dirty white. Bill and feet black. Female paler. 
Season: Familiar winter resident, but most common in the fall mi- 
gration, when numbers remain until very cold weather, and re- 
turn all through the early spring. 
Breeds: Chiefly northward, but sometimes in the northern United 
States. 
This Wild Goose, even when only seen casually, is easily 
identified by its great size, being almost twice as large as 
the Brant, the only other common species. Its distinctive 
mark, other than size, is a broad, white band that extends 
like a handkerchief folded cornerwise under its chin and tied 
on the top of its head. 
The flight of the Goose is heavy, but very impressive. 
Geese usually form in two columns, meeting in front on either 
side of the experienced leader, forming a wedge. 
