OF NORTH AMERICA. 37 
37. LESSER SNOW GOOSE. 
Chen hyperborea. 
38. GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 
WHITE: BRANT. WAVEY. 
Chen hyperborea nivalis. 
Color white, wing tips black, head stained 
with rusty. Bill red, with black on edge of 
mouth. Legs same color. Eyes dark brown. 
The young birds look like No. 39. Weight 
‘aon ee walle 
Habits the western sections and interior of 
North America, a few visiting the Atlantic 
coast in the winter, common in the interior. 
These two birds are so near alike that I do 
not attempt to separate any notes on the 
two varieties. The lesser variety is only about 
2 Ibs. lighter than the other, and evading up 
to it, so “that it is nearly impossible to distin- 
cuish them. Their coloration is identical. 
The bird which is found in the East is gener- 
ally, perhaps invariably, the larger form. 
In the East they are much in ali like other 
geese, feeding in the bays and harbors, though 
I have never heard of their being shot in the 
ponds. I see no reason why they should not 
be, as in the West they swarm the prairies to 
such an extent as to destroy whole fields of 
wheat. 
The flesh is dark colored, and not so finely 
flavored as some of its relations. 
