WATER BIRDS. 115 



no sharply defined line in the Mississippi Valley between the winter ranges 

 of the Greater and Lesser forms. In general the Greater Snow Goose is 

 the more common east of the Mississippi River and winters from southern 

 Illinois to the Gulf" (Ibid, p. 68). 



As seen in Michigan Snow Geese usually occur in small flocks of ten to 

 forty individuals, flying at a considerable height and usually in an irregular 

 flock, seldom in a straight line or the v-shaped flock so characteristic of the 

 Canada Goose. When they alight to rest they sometimes select open 

 water in some of the inland lakes or the larger rivers, but they also frequently 

 alight in open fields, when, however, it is difficult to approach them and 

 hence specimens are seldom obtained. 



Like all geese they get a large part of their food from the dry land, eating 

 grass and other herbage freely in the manner of the domestic geese. Un- 

 doubtedly Snow Geese are far less common at present than a few decades 

 ago, and from present indications the last of them will be seen within a very 

 few years. 



The Lesser Snow Goose is known to nest in Alaska and its eggs are 

 described as two to six in number, dirty white, and measuring 3.13 by 2.12 

 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Primaries and primary coverts black or brownish-black; rest of the plumage 

 pure white except that the feathers of head and neck (and occasionally the breast also) 

 are often stained rusty red at their tips by contact with iron-bearing waters or mud. Bill 

 in life light purplish and with a whitish tip or "nail," the deep gaping space along its 

 sides black. Legs and feet usually purphsh red. Sexes ahke. Immature birds are 

 mainly gray, paler and less marked below, darker and distinctly streaked above, particularly 

 on the scapulars and tertiaries, the feathers of most of the upper parts with wliitish edges, 

 and the rump, upper tail-coverts and tail commonly pure white; imder parts grayish or 

 soiled white, becoming clear white on the belly and imder tail-coverts. 



Length 23 to 28 inches; wing 14.50 to 17; culmen 1.95 to 2.30; tarsus 2.80 to 3.25. 



59. Blue-winged Goose. Chen coerulescens {Linn.). (169.1) 



Synonyms: Blue Goose, Blue Snow Goose, Blue Wavey, Wliite-headed Goose, Bald- 

 headed Brant, Brant. — Anas caerulescens, Linn., 1758. — Anser coerulescens, VieilL, 

 1823.— Chen coerulescens, Ridgw., 1880. 



The adult is known at once by its white head and neck in strong contrast 

 with the gray-brown body. The young of the year can be separated from 

 young Snow Geese only by careful comparison with descriptions, although 

 the wings resemble those of the adult and the white chin appears to be 

 distinctive. 



Distribution. — Interior of North America, breeding on eastern shores 

 of Hudson Bay and migrating south, in winter, through Mississippi Valley 

 to Gulf Coast; occasional on Atlantic Coast. 



While this bird is far from common in Michigan it appears to be more 

 often seen and taken than any other member of the genus. It occurs only 

 during migration, or possibly in winter, and of course does not nest anywhere 

 within our limits. The following are our records: The late W. H. Collins 

 states that two specimens were taken at St. Clair Flats (Gibbs Manuscript). 

 Mr. N. A. Eddy of Bay City, has a fine male in his collection, taken October 

 30, 1885, one of a dozen or more which he found in the Bay City markets, 

 said to have been killed on a lake on the Mackinac Division of the Michigan 

 Central, a little north of Bay City, where a large flock was surrounded at 



