The Bird Book Part 20

These birds may be recognized by their mottled plumage, dark head and white forehead. This species is more abundant than any of the preceding and nests in large colonies along the arctic coast and in Alaska. Their nests are made of dried gra.s.ses, feathers and down and are placed on the ground in a slight depression. From four to nine eggs are laid; these have a dull buff ground. Size 3.00 2.05. Data.--Island in delta of Mackenzie River, June 10, 1899. Four eggs. Nest of gra.s.s and feathers on the ground on a small island. Collector, Rev. I. O. Stringer.

171.1. BEAN GOOSE. _Anser fabalis._

This European species is casually found in Greenland. It is one of the most common of the Old World Species.

[Ill.u.s.tration 110: Ross Snow Goose. American White-fronted Goose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco-photo.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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172. CANADA GOOSE. _Branta canadensis canadensis._

Range.--The whole of North America, breeding from northern United States northward, and wintering in the southern parts of the United States.

This species is the most widely known of American Geese and is the most abundant. Its familiar "honk" has long been regarded as the signal of the coming of spring, and the familiar V-shaped formation in which the flocks migrate is always an object of interest to everyone. With the exception of in North Dakota and Minnesota, they breed chiefly north of the United States. They construct quite a large nest of weeds and gra.s.s, and warmly line it with down and feathers. They lay from four to nine eggs of a buff or drab color. Size about 3.50 2.50. Data.--Ellingsars Lake, North Dakota, May 18, 1896. Five eggs. Nest on an island in the lake, constructed of weeds and trash, and lined with a few feathers.

Collector, Edwin S. Bryant.

172a. HUTCHINS GOOSE. _Branta canadensis hutchinsi._

This sub-species is like the preceding except that it is smaller, thirty inches in length. It is a western variety, breeding in Alaska and along the Arctic coast and wintering to southern California. Its breeding habits, nests and eggs are the same as the common goose except that the eggs are smaller. Size 3.00 2.05.

172b. WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. _Branta canadensis occidentalis._

This bird is about the same size as the Canada Goose and the plumage is very similar except that the black sometimes extends on the throat, thereby isolating the white cheek patches, and there is a white collar below the back of the neck. It is a western species, breeding in Alaska and wintering along the Pacific coast of the United States. Its nesting habits and eggs are same as those of the Canada Goose except that the latter are a trifle smaller.

172c. CACKLING GOOSE. _Branta canadensis minima._

This bird is really a miniature of the Canada Goose, being but twenty-four inches in length. It breeds in Alaska and along the Arctic coast and migrates into the western parts of the United States. They are abundant birds in their breeding range, where they place their nests upon the sh.o.r.es of ponds, or on islands in inland rivers or lakes. The nests are made of weeds and gra.s.ses, lined with down. The eggs which are buff colored, number from four to nine and are laid during June and July. Size 2.30 1.95.

[Ill.u.s.tration 111: Canada Goose. Cackling Goose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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[Ill.u.s.tration 112: CANADA GEESE.]

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173. BRANT. _Branta bernicla glaucogastra._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering in the United States east of the Mississippi.

The Brant resembles a small Canada Goose, except that the black of the neck extends on the breast, and only the throat is white. They are one of the favorite game birds and thousands are shot every fall and spring.

Their nests and eggs are the same as the next species.

174. BLACK BRANT. _Branta nigricans._

Range.--Western North America, breeding in Alaska and wintering on the Pacific coast of the United States. Rare east of the Mississippi.

This species is like the last except that the black extends on the under parts. This species nests very abundantly in northern Alaska, laying their eggs in a depression in the ground, lined with down. Favorite locations are the many small islets in ponds and small lakes. They lay from four to eight grayish colored eggs. Size 2.80 1.75. Data.--Cape Bathurst, North West Territory, Junes 22, 1901. Seven eggs in a small hollow in the ground, lined with down. Collector, Capt. H. H. Bodfish.

[Ill.u.s.tration 113: Brant. Black Brant.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Grayish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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175. BARNACLE GOOSE. _Branta leucopsis._

This Old World species occurs frequently in Greenland and very rarely is found on the mainland of this continent.

176. EMPEROR GOOSE. _Philacte canagica._

Range.--Alaska, south in winter casually to California.

This handsome species is twenty-six inches in length; it may be known from the mottled or "scaly" appearance of the body, and the white head with a black chin and throat. While not uncommon in restricted localities, this may be considered as one of the most rare of North American Geese. Their nests are built upon the ground and do not differ from those of other geese. They lay from three to seven eggs of a dull buff color. Size 3.10 2.15. Data.--Stuart Island, Alaska, June 16, 1900. Six eggs laid in a slight hollow in the ground, lined with a few feathers and some down. Collector, Capt. H. H. Bodfish.

[Ill.u.s.tration 114: Barnacle Goose. Emperor Goose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Egg of Canada Goose--Buffy drab.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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177. BLACK-BELLIED TREE-DUCK. _Dendrocygna autumnalis._

Range.--Tropical America, north in the Rio Grande Valley to southern Texas.

These peculiar long-legged Ducks are very abundant in southern Texas during the summer months. They build their nests in hollow trees, often quite a distance from the water. They lay their eggs upon the bottom of the cavity with only a scant lining, if any, of feathers and down. They are very prolific breeders, raising two broods in a season, each set of eggs containing from ten to twenty. These eggs are creamy or pure white, size 2.05 1.50. The first set is laid during the latter part of April or early in May, and fresh eggs may be found as late as July. They are especially abundant about Brownsville and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Data.--Hidalgo, Mexico, May 29, 1900. Ten eggs in a hole in an old elm tree on side of lake in big woods near town. Eight feet from the ground.

Collector, F. B. Armstrong.

178. FULVOUS TREE-DUCK. _Dendrocygna bicolor._

Range.--This species is tropical like the last, but the summer range is extended to cover, casually the whole southwestern border of the United States.

This bird is long-legged like the last, but the plumage is entirely different, being of a general rusty color, including the entire under parts. The nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the Black-bellied Duck, the white eggs being laid at the bottom of a cavity in a tree. They number from eight to (in one instance) thirty-two eggs in one nest. This species is nearly as abundant as the preceding in southern Texas.

[Ill.u.s.tration 115: White.]