438 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



diffused and darker blue color, and being also of a smaller size. In the spring James 

 Bay is frequently crossed by both species at Cape Jones and at Cape Henrietta 

 Maria. Occasionally two or three of the cmrulescens may be seen in a flock of the 

 Snow Geese on the Albany shore, while two or three of the latter may also be seen 

 accompanying full flocks of the ca'ridescens on the east main shore. This may be 

 accounted for by the similarity of their cry. 



By Indian report the great breeding-ground of the cmrulescens is the country lying 

 in the interior from the northeast point of Labrador. Extensive swamps and im- 

 passable bogs prevail there, and the Geese incubate on the more solid and driest 

 tufts, dispersed over the morasses, safe from the approach of man or any other than 

 a winged enemy. 



Mr. Hearne, who wrote a century ago, refers to this as a species distinct from the 

 Snow Goose. He speaks of it as being of the same size as the latter, and, like it, 

 having bill and legs of a deep flesh-color, but with the entire plumage of a dirty blue, 

 resembling old lead. Its skin, stripped of its feathers, is of the same color as that of 

 the SnoAV Goose, and the flesh is equally good eating. This species, he adds, is sel- 

 dom seen north of Churchill Elver, and is not very common at Fort York ; but at 

 Ft)rt Albany it was much more plentiful than the Snow Goose. The breeding-places 

 of both S2:)ecies, however, were equally unknown, even to the most careful and accu- 

 rate observer. Hearne could not ascertain that any of their eggs had ever been 

 taken, and their winter haunts had, up to his time, remained wliolly undiscovered. 

 Birds of this species were not infrequently observed to lead a flock of the Snow 

 Geese ; and as they usually fly in angles, it was sometimes quite a striking thing to 

 see a bird of a different color leading the van. The leader is generally the object of 

 the first sportsman who fires, as this throws the whole flock into such confusion 

 that some of the other hunters frequently kill six or seven at a shot. 



So far as is known, this species does not occur on the Pacific coast ; Dr. Cooper 

 has never met with it on any part of that coast. 



According to Mr. Boardman, this Goose occurs occasionally in the neighborhood 

 of Calais, where it is even more common than the "White-fronted species {Anser Gam- 

 heli). He also informs me that a specimen has been taken at Grand Menan. 



It is quite probable that Mr. Audubon, to whom the existence of this species as 

 distinct from the hyperhoreus was unknown, may have referred to it as the gray state 

 of the Snow Goose, which he mentions as so very common in winter about the 

 mouths of the Mississippi and along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico as far as Texas. 

 He also notices the fact that the young remain for several years of a dark-bluish 

 color, and mentions that a friend kept one four years without any change being 

 noticed. 



the upper parts. The young would appear at first sight to be a distinct species, so diiFerent is the pattern 

 of coloration. The white of the head, neck, abdomen, and tail-coverts is entirely absent, and the bird is 

 of an almost uniform ashy plumbeous, slightly darker about the head, and lighter on the abdomen. This 

 plumage is retained until the second year at least, as many specimens are procured in spriug with the 

 dark head, neck, and abdomen still immaculate ; and these, I think, are young of the preceding year. At 

 the same time specimens are found with the dark feathers about the head well mixed with white, repre- 

 senting the second year. In birds of the third year the white predominates ; but not until the fourth or 

 fifth year does the plumage become perfect." 



