Canada Geese, that had been procured a few days before, and were already
salted for winter use. The pile consisted of several hundred individuals,
all of which had been killed before they were able to fly. I was
told there that this species fed much on the leaves of the dwarf firs, and,
on examining their gizzards, found the statement to be correct.
The young dive very expertly, soon after their reaching the water, at
the least appearance of danger. In the Southern and Western States, the
enemies of the Canada Goose are, by water, the Alligator, the Garfish,
and the Turtle; and on land, the Cougar, the Lynx, and the Racoon.
While in the air, they are liable to be attacked by the White-headed
Eagle. It is a very hardy bird, and individuals have been kept in a state
of captivity or domestication for upwards of forty years. Every portion
of it is useful to man, for besides the value of the flesh as an article of
food, the feathers, the quills, and the fat, are held in request. The eggs
also afford very good eating.
ANAS CANADENSIS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 198—Lath. Ind. Orrrith. vol. ii. p. 838.
ANSER CANADENSIS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 377-
CANADA GOOSE, ANAS CANADENSIS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 52. pi. G7. fig. 4.
ANSER CANADENSIS, CANADA GOOSE, Swains, and Richards. Fauna Bor. Amer. p. 468.
CANADA GOOSE, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 349.
Adult Male. Plate CCI. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, rather higher than broad at the base, somewhat
conical, depressed towards the end, rounded at the tip. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge broad and flattened, the
sides sloping, the edges soft and obtuse, the oblique marginal lamella?
short, transverse, about thirty on each side; the unguis obovate, convex,
denticulate on the inner edge. Nasal groove oblong, parallel to the ridge,
filled by the soft membrane of the bill; nostrils medial, lateral, longitudinal,
narrow-elliptical, open, pervious. Lower mandible straight, with
the angle very long, narrow, and rounded, the edges soft and obtuse, with
about thirty oblique lamella? on a perpendicular plane.
Head small, oblong, compressed. Neck long and slender. Body full,
slightly depressed. Feet short, stout, placed behind the centre of the
body ; legs bare a little above the tibio-tarsal joint; tarsus short, a little
compressed, covered all round with angular reticulated scales, which
are smaller behind; hind toe very small, with a narrow membrane;
third toe longest, fourth a little shorter, but longer than second; all the
toes reticulated above at the base, but with narrow transverse scutella towards
the end; the three anterior connected Ipy a reticulated membrane,
the outer with a thick margin, the inner with the margin extended into a
two-lobed web; claws small, arched, rather compressed, except that of
the middle toe, which is bent obliquely outwards and depressed, with a
curved edge. Wings of moderate length, with an obtuse protuberance at
the flexure.
Plumage close, rather short, compact above, blended on the neck and
lower parts of the body. The feathers of the head and neck very narrow,
of the back very broad and abrupt, of the breast and belly broadly rounded.
Wings, when closed, extending to about an inch from the end of the
tail, acute; primaries very strong, curved, the second longest, the third
slightly shorter, the first almost as long as the third, the rest rapidly
graduated; secondaries long, rather narrow, rounded. Tail very short,
rounded, of eighteen stiff, rounded, but acuminate, feathers.
Bill, feet, and claws black. Iris chestnut-brown. Head and two
upper thirds of the neck glossy black ; forehead, cheeks, and chin, tinged
with brown; lower eyelid white; a broad band of the same across the
throat to behind the eyes; rump and tail-feathers also black. The general
colour of the rest of the upper parts is greyish-brown, the wing-coverts
shaded into ash-grey; all the feathers terminally edged with very pale
brown; the lower part of the neck passing into greyish-white, which is
the general colour of the lower parts, with the exception of the abdomen,
which is pure white, the sides, which are pale brownish-grey, the feathers
tipped with white, and the lower wing-coverts, which are also pale brownish
grey. The margins of the rump, and the upper tail-coverts, pure
white.
In very old males, I have found the breast of a fine pale buff.
Length to end of tail 43 inches, extent of wings 65; bill along the
ridge 2£, in depth at the base 1 T
2
2 , in breadth 1 ; tarsus 2T\ ; middle toe
and claw 4£; wing from flexure 20; tail 7.J. Weight 7 lb.
Adult Female. Plate CCI. Fig. 2.
The Female is somewhat less than the male, but similar in colouring,
although the tints are duller. The white of the throat is tinged with
brown; the lower parts are always more grey, and the black of the head,
neck, rump, and tail, is shaded with brown.
Length 41 inches. Weight 5{ lb.