ZOOLOGY—BIRDS. 
67 
BERNICLA HUTCHINSII, Richardson.—Hutchin’s Goose. 
Bernicla hutchinsii, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 470.—Aun. B. of A. Fol. pi. 277. 
Anser hutchinsii, Aud. Oct. vol. VI, p. 198, pi. 377. 
Arrive in California towards the end of September or beginning of October. On their 
advent they are much emaciated by their long voyage from the northern regions, but after 
feeding a short time on the young, tender, nutritious grasses which sprout after the first winter 
rains, they form one of the greatest delicacies of the pioneer’s repast. From the facility, 
however, with which great numbers of them are obtained, they soon fall into disrepute. 
Whilst hunting during a space of two months in Suisun valley, I observed them, with other 
species of geese, at dawn, high in the air, winging their way towards the prairies and hilly 
slopes, where the tender young wild oats and grapes offered a tempting pasturage. This early 
flight lasted about two hours, and as far as the eye could reach the sky was spotted with flock 
after flock, closely following in each other’s wmke, until it seemed as though all the geese of 
California had given rendezvous at this particular point. Between ten and eleven o’clock they 
would leave the prairies, first in small squads, then in large masses, settling in the marshes 
and collecting around the ponds and sloughs thickly edged with heavy reeds. Here, swimming 
on the water, bathing and pluming themselves, they keep up a continued but not unmusical 
clatter. This proves the most propitious time of the day for the hunter, who, under cover of 
the tall reeds, and guided by their continual cackling, approaches closely enough to deal havoc 
among them. Discharging one load as they sit on the water and the other as they rise, I have 
thus seen twenty-three geese gathered from two shots, while many more, wounded and maimed, 
fluttered away and were lost. At about one o’clock they leave the marshes and return to feed 
on the prairies, flying low and affording the sportsman again an opportunity to stop their 
career. In the afternoon, about five o’clock, they finally leave the prairies, and rising high 
in the air wend their way to the roosting places whence they came in the morning. These 
were often at a great distance, as I have followed them in their evening flight until they were 
lost to view. Many, however, roost in the marshes. Our boat, sailing one night down the 
sloughs leading to Suisun bay, having come among them, the noise made as they rose in 
advance of us, emitting their cry of alarm, (their disordered masses being so serried that we 
could hear their pinions strike each other as they flew,) impressed us with the idea that we 
must have disturbed thousands. Such are the habits of the geese during the winter. Towards 
spring they separate into smaller flocks and gradually disappear from the country, some few 
only remaining, probably crippled and unable to follow the more vigorous in their northern 
migration. On examination, I found a great difference in the size of this bird, but beyond 
this could discover no peculiar characteristics by which to mark them as distinct species. 
Many have from a few white feathers up to a full and distinct white ring on the neck, at the 
point where the black joins the grey of the breast. Intermediate grades so closely approaching 
one another in size, form, and color render it impossible to make any decided, certain, and 
marked classification among them. I observed these birds very abundant about the bay of San 
Diego, searching for small shell-fish and sea grasses on the shores at low tide. 
