67 
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 
has seen the spring flight, which, he has been told, extends from 
the coast inland two hundred and fifty to three hundred miles. Mr. 
A. M. Shields states that the white-fronted is the goose usually seen 
in the Los Angeles game market, being most easily secured by the 
pot-hunters. 
GENUS BRANTA. 
General Characters. — Bill and feet black at all ages; both sexes and 
young alike ; neck long and slender; head and neck black, with white on 
cheeks, or else white collar ; body mainly gray. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Cheeks white. 
2. White of cheeks continuous under throat. 
3. Length 35-43 . canadensis, p. 67. 
3'. Length 25-34 . hutchinsii, p. 68. 
2'. White of cheeks separated by black of throat. 
3. Wing 16.25-18.00 . occidentals, p. 68. 
3'. Wing 13.60-14.50 minima, p. 68. 
T. Cheeks black, collar white. nigricans, p. 68. 
172. Branta canadensis (Linn.). Canada Goose. 
Head and neck black except for broad white band across throat and 
cheeks; body deep gray, feathers 
tipped with lighter ; rump, tail, 
and quills black; upper and 
lower tail coverts, and ventral 
region, white. Length : 35-43, 
wing 15.60-421.00, bill 1.55-2.70. 
Distribution. — North Amer¬ 
ica, breeding from the northern 
United States to Labrador and 
the lower Mackenzie ; south in 
winter to Mexico. 
Nest. — Usually on low mound 
in marsh, made of grass and 
leaves, lined with down. Re¬ 
ported also in old nests of 
hawks and eagles, in trees. Eggs: 6 to 7, dull white. 
Few wild bird notes are more inspiring than the honk, honk, ha 
wank, honk, of a long line of Canada geese flying with apparent de¬ 
liberation but with really terrific speed overhead, calling as they go 
in notes that carry for a mile over marsh, lake, and prairie. The 
big strong wings whish loudly overhead far out of shotgun range, 
and often a low conversational gabble can be heard under the loud 
honking. Few of our game birds, by intelligent caution and watch¬ 
fulness, have withstood so successfully the deep laid schemes and 
murderous devices of pot-hunters and sportsmen as this noble, spir¬ 
ited bird. The widest expanse of water, marsh, or prairie is sought 
for the day's feeding and resting ground, and the country surveyed 
