CHEN.—ANSER. 201 
1. Chen hyperboreus. 
Anser hyperboreus, Pall. Spic. Zool. vi. p. 25°; Dugés, La Nat.i. p. 1437; Sumichr. La Nat. v. 
p. 234°, 
Chen hyperboreus, Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds N. Amer. i. p. 439‘; Salvad. Cat. Birds 
Brit. Mus, xxvii. p. 84°; A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 60°. 
Pure albus, pileo interdum ferrugineo tincto ; ala spuria et tectricibus primariorum cineraceis; primariis nigris, 
basin versus cinerascentibus : rostro purpurascenti-rubro, culminis ungue albo, margine tomiali nigro ; 
pedibus purpurascentibus vel aurantiacis; iride saturate brunnea. Long. tota circa 28-0, ale 17-0, 
caude 6-3, culm. 2°3, tarsi 3-25. (Deser. maris adulti ex Corpus Christi, Texas. Mus. nostr.) 
2 wari similis, sed minor. Long. tota circa 23:0, ale 14-5, caudex 6°3, culm. 1:95, tarsi 2:8, 
Juv. Supra brunnescenti-griseus, notei plumis albido limbatis ; tectricibus alarum, secundariis externis 
rectricibusque latius marginatis ; uropygio, supracaudalibus et corpore subtus toto pure albis: rostro 
nigricante ; pedibus plumbeis ; iride brunnea. 
Hab. Norra Amurica, Greenland4; Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley, breeding 
in Alaska; south in winter to Southern Illinois and Southern California ; casually 
to New England °.—Mexico, Guanajuato (Dugés?), savannas of the Pacific coast 
(Sumichrast ?)—N.KE. Asta®; NortHern Evrops, accidental 5, 
C. hyperboreus breeds in the Tundra or Barren Grounds of Arctic America, arriving 
in its northern habitat in the spring, at first in small parties, but afterwards in such 
amazing numbers that the marshes, at a little distance off, occasionally appear to be 
covered with snow, owing to the white plumage of these birds. In winter it is 
found on the lakes of the interior, and occurs in enormous numbers off the coast of 
California, whence the species extends into Western Mexico. 
he Snow-Goose migrates along both coasts of North America, and is abundant 
off the mouth of the Mississippi and on the muddy and grassy shores of the Gulf of 
Mexico, the flocks of old and young birds generally keeping separate, according to 
Audubon, the immature individuals being recognizable by their grey plumage. 
C. hyperboreus is said to be a more silent species than the other migratory Geese, 
rarely emitting any cry, except when pursued or wounded. 
The nest consists of a hole in the sand, well lined with down. ‘he eggs are of a 
uniform dirty or yellowish-white colour. 
ANSER. 
Anser, Briss. Orn. vi. p. 261 (1760); Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 88 (1895). 
As in the genus Chen, the serrations on the cutting-edge of the upper mandible of 
the species of Anser are visible from outside, and the tomium is decidedly sinuate or 
concave ; but the bill is weaker and more depressed, its depth at the base being 
less than half the length of the culmen. The plumage of the adult is never entirely 
white. The only true Goose which occurs within our limits is the large white-fronted 
A. gambeli. | 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. III., January 1902. 26 
