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C. L. Sibley—American Wild Geese



for their food in the heap of peat-moss on which a supply of seed was

thrown morning and evening.


Yellow-fronts readily become tame, and would, I imagine, make

the most attractive pets. They are consumed with curiosity, and

any unfamiliar object that is put into their aviary has to be instantly

and thoroughly examined.



AMERICAN WILD GEESE


By C. L. Sibley


The September issue of the Avicultural Magazine is at hand to-day,

and I find that my usual delightful anticipation of its monthly arrival

is again rewarded by some most interesting articles.


In particular I was interested in Mr. Moody’s mention of a newly-

acquired pair of our American Cackling Geese ( Branta minima). We sent

two pairs to Mr. Ronald Stevens in the spring and at that time I thought

them the only ones in England, although I have learned differently

since.


Our Cackling Goose, as Mr. Moody says, is roughly a miniature

edition of the Canada. However in America we feel that it is too

widely separated from the Canada, even though superficially similar,

to be classed a sub-species of that goose and there is some movement

on foot to have the Cackling Goose and its very close relative, the

larger White-cheeked Goose of the Pacific coast, given specific rank,

the White-cheeked Goose (. Branta canadensis occidentalis) as a species

distinct from the Canada, and the Cackling a sub-species of the White¬

cheeked, with which it is identical except in size.


The range of the White-cheeked Goose (which is now almost extinct)

coincides very closely with that of the smaller Cackling, both being

birds of our Pacific coast only. Both have the short, stubby bill, dark

grey breasts, and more or less well defined white ring at the base of the

black neck, which are very distinct from the head, form and colouring

of the Canada and its close relative, the smaller Hutchins Goose, identical

with the Canada except in size.



