Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast Part 11

=Eggs and Nest=--The nest is generally built of sticks and gra.s.s, lined with feathers, and either in the marshes or on the banks of a stream, and rarely if ever contain more than six or seven, and often not more than four, eggs of a very light brownish white.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 19 inches; bill, about 1-3/4 inches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE (Branta canadensis occidentalis)]

THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE

(Branta canadensis occidentalis)

The white-cheeked goose, known also as Mexican goose, is found only on the Pacific Coast and never east of the Cascades in Was.h.i.+ngton and Oregon, or the Sierra Nevadas in California. In fact, they are generally confined to localities not far from the ocean. While both the honker and the Hutchins goose have a white cheek, the white of the honker meets under the chin or blends into a gray, but the white of the white-cheeked variety is separated either with a distinct black stripe under the chin or a mottled black and white one. Also the black of the neck of the white-cheeked goose and the brownish gray of the breast is very generally separated by a white collar, though sometimes this is so faint as to be almost indistinguishable.

The white-cheeked goose is rarely seen south of Monterey Bay, California.

=Color=--Same as the Canada goose, except that the white on the cheeks is either separated under the chin by a black stripe or by only a very few white feathers in the black. Between the neck and the dull gray of the breast is a narrow white stripe, or collar. This some times is very faint, and, in fact, some times, though very rarely, absent. This absence of the collar is quite likely caused by its inter-grading with the Hutchins goose.

=Nest and Eggs=--The same as the Canada goose.

=Measurements=--Wing, never more than 16 inches; bill, not more than 1-1/4 inches.

THE HUTCHINS GOOSE

(Branta canadensis hutchinsii)

We have on the Pacific Coast four varieties of the =Branta canadensis=, or that species to which belongs the Canada goose, all resembling each other closely except in size. Two of these species are generally considered honkers by most of our sportsmen, while others have two or three local names for them, among which are Mexican goose and Lower California goose. The fact is that while the Canada goose is quite common on the coasts of Mexico, neither the Hutchins goose nor the white-cheeked goose migrate that far south.

The Hutchins goose so closely resembles the Canada goose, or honker as it is popularly called, that it is princ.i.p.ally distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in the call. The Hutchins goose ranges as far east as the Mississippi valley, and on the Pacific Coast south only to about Santa Barbara county, California. This is one of the two varieties that is given the local names of Mexican and Lower California goose.

=Color=--Same as the Canada goose, from which it is only distinguished by its smaller size and a considerable difference in its call.

=Nest and Eggs=--Same as the Canada goose.

=Measurements=--Wing, not more than 17 inches; bill, 1-1/2 inches.

THE CACKLING GOOSE, OR BROWN BRANT

(Branta canadensis minima)

The cackling goose, known also as brown brant and gray brant, is the most common of the four varieties and much the smallest. (See ill.u.s.tration.) Its markings are the same as the Canada goose, but its under parts are somewhat darker. While in total length it is fully half that of the honker, in weight it is not more than one-third. The cackling geese are commonly found in flocks of the white geese, both in their feeding and their migrations. This species ranges east as far as the Mississippi valley and south on the Coast as far as the mouth of the Colorado river and to some extent into Lower California. It is more numerous than any other of the dark colored geese of the Pacific Coast.

=Color=--The same as the Canada goose, with the exception that it is a little darker on the under parts.

=Nest and Eggs=--The same as the Canada goose, but the eggs number as high as ten.

=Measurements=--Wing, 13 to 14-1/2 inches; bill, from one to one and one-eighth.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LESSER SNOW GOOSE ROSS GOOSE (Chen hyperborea) (Chen rossi)]

THE SNOW GOOSE, OR WHITE GOOSE

(Chen hyperborea)

The lesser snow geese, commonly called white geese, are the larger of the two species of white geese so numerous on the Coast. They not only feed, but migrate in great flocks, and these migrations often take place at night when their sharp cries will be heard high in the air.

The lesser snow goose is found as far east as the Mississippi valley and south on the Pacific Coast to San Diego. Occasionally a few are seen at Ensenada and the valley of the Palms in Lower California. The meat is tough and poor in flavor and, therefore, they are hunted but little except by the market hunters, who, somehow, succeed in selling a good number of them to the uninitiated.

=Color=--Pure white, with black bill and legs; the primaries, or long feathers of the wings, are black.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are made close to the water's edge and contain about ten dirty white eggs.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 16 inches; bill, 2-1/4 inches.

THE ROSS GOOSE LITTLE WHITE GOOSE

(Chen rossii)

The Ross goose has been given the name of China goose by many who wanted some distinguis.h.i.+ng nomenclature for them, when in fact the Ross goose is purely an American Pacific Coast bird. Like the snow goose it is pure white with black primary plumes. Young birds of both species are occasionally seen in the early part of the season more or less mottled on the breast with yellowish gray feathers. The Ross goose is only about half the size of the snow goose. Aside from this it can always be known by the warty appearance of the upper half of the bill. They are commonly seen, both in feeding and in their migrations, mixed in the flocks of the snow geese. Occasionally they are seen as far east as Utah and Montana, but only in small numbers.

The Ross goose migrates as far south as Central Mexico, great numbers of them congregating on Lake Chapala, in the state of Jalisco.

=Color=--Same as the snow goose.

=Measurements=--Wing, about 14 inches; bill, 2-1/4, with warty excresences on the upper part.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, OR SPECKLE-BREAST (Anser albifrons gambeli)]

WHITE FRONTED GOOSE

(Anser albifrons gambeli)

The white-fronted goose, or speckle-breast as it is commonly called, is quite common on the Coast south to Mexico, where great numbers congregate on Lake Chapala, Jalisco. This is another western species, though ranging to some extent as far east as the Mississippi valley and an occasional flock wanders even to the Atlantic coast. The b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the old birds are commonly profusely speckled with black feathers. The white-fronted goose is a little more exclusive in its habits than any of the others named, being generally found in flocks by themselves. As a table bird the meat is quite palatable, and large numbers are sold in the markets.

=Color=--Head, grayish brown, with a white spot at the junction of the bill, but this is absent from the young birds; neck, lighter, shading into white or dull white on the breast, mottled with black; back, ashy gray, edged with brown; shafts of the quills, white; bill and legs, light pink.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually well made and lined with feathers and down. The eggs number about seven or eight, and are of a pale greenish white.

=Measurements=--Wing, 16 inches; bill, 2 inches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: EMPEROR GOOSE (Philacte canagica)]