ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — CHEN. 443 



years a tame Snow Goose, which mated with a common tame bird ; but the eggs 

 were unproductive. 



According to INIiddendorff the 8now Goose occurs in Siberia, whence it extends its 

 movements to thi> extreme north. Mr. Dresser also states tliat this bird is found 

 quite reguLarly in tlie eastern portion of European Russia. It has also been met 

 with in Japan ; but is not known to have been seen either in Great Britain or in 

 Scandinavia. It is believed to have been taken on several occasions in Germany. 

 According to Naumann, considerable flocks have been known to pass through Silesia. 

 Bechstein mentions the occurrence of a large flock on the 13th of January, 1792, pass- 

 ing over the Thiiringerwald. A single specimen is reported to have been taken in 

 France in 1829. It is also said to occur in Greece. 



Dr. Degiand — as quoted by Mr. Dresser — states that Snow Geese are common 

 in Cuba from October to April. In October, 1845, two of these birds came to a pond 

 on which some tame Geese were swimming, and were shot. He adds that when the 

 Cienaga de Zapata begins to dry up, portions are covered with Snow Geese, and that 

 he had killed at least thirty of them in one season. Dr. jNIerrill mentions this species 

 as quite common during winter on the western coast of Texas. 



Mr. MacFarlane describes these Geese as being very numerous at Fort Anderson 

 about May 25, flying northward, but being afterward driven back by the severity 

 of the weather. The nests of these birds were discovered on a small island in a lake 

 near Liverpool Bay. They were in holes in tlie sandy soil, and were well lined 

 with down. Mr. Dali found these birds common on the Yukon in the spring. Their 

 Indian name is Holikol, or Great White Bird. They arrive about May 9, flying from 

 the south up the river, but only stop to feed in the marshes during the night. They 

 do not breed in the vicinity of the Yukon, nor do they return in the fall by the same 

 route by which they came. They have all gone by May 30. 



Examples of this species were also procured at Fort Resolution by Mr. Kennicott, 

 near Fort Simpson by Mr. B. R. Ross, and at Fort Rae by Mr. Clarke. 



In a paper of tlie late jNIr. E. Adams on the Birds of Michalaski, Alaska (" Ibis," 

 1878), the first arrival of the Snow Goose on jSTorton Sound is noted as having taken 

 place on the 9tli of May. During the two following days this bird was constantly 

 passing over in large flocks of from one hundred to three hundred, an immense num- 

 ber thus arriving. After that time only a few stragglers were seen. The flocks 

 followed one another with great rapidity, and as soon as one large body disappeared, 

 another was seen advancing. In this manner — as he was assured — they pass every 

 year, and all return about the end of September ; at each season, with the excej)tion 

 of a few stragglers, being seen for only three days. ITone of the other kinds of 

 Geese were seen in such numbers as this was, nor was any other sjDCcies so regular in its 

 flight. This bird generally passes over at a considerable height, and seldom alights 

 except at night ; but the stragglers flew exceptionally low, and were easily shot. 

 Every bird seemed to be in full plumage and in good condition, but none remained 

 to breed. 



The smaller form probably does not differ as to its general habits and other 

 characteristics from the larger. But little is known as to its distribution and 

 history. According to Dr. Cooper it appears to be rather common in California in 

 the winter. In company Avith the Snow Goose it frequents the plains, and is said to 

 have very similar habits ; at least nothing distinctive has been observed. This bird 

 is much less abundant than the Snow Goose ; but a considerable number are brought 

 to market every winter, and they are known in the markets of San Francisco as the 

 " White Brant," on account of their smaller size. 



