70 



THE 00L0QI8T 



THE LESSER SNOW AND BLUE 

 GEESE 



There is some discussion about 

 European Ornithologists as to the 

 validity of the specific differences 

 recognized by the American Orni- 

 thologists Union, between the Lesser 

 Snow Goose (Chen hyperborea) A. O. 

 U. No. 169 and the Blue Goose (Chen 

 caerulescens) A. O. U. No. 169.1. As 

 this is a matter which I have had 

 some opportunity to investigate first 

 hand, having had both species in con- 

 finement on my place, Lacon, Illinois, 

 for eight or ten years past, 1 think 1 

 may speak in some degree under as- 

 surance on this subject. While I have 

 been very far from agreeing with 

 many of the so-called sub-specific dif- 

 ferences, that are alleged to have been 

 discovered between birds of the same 

 species by many of our hair splitting 

 ornithologists in establishing a multi- 

 tude millimeter races. There is no 

 doubt as to the validity of both these 

 species of geese as full species. 



In years gone by I have had many 

 of both varieties, trapped birds per- 

 fect in every respect and wing-tipped 

 birds crippled on the shooting grounds 

 in confinement. 1 have had young 

 birds of the year and old fully mature 

 specimens, as well as having had 

 them nest in confinement and having 

 the pleasure of raising the only Blua 

 Goose of which there is any record, of 

 having been raised in confinement. 

 There are a number of constant and 

 substantial differences, upon either of 

 which the establishment of the two 

 species might validly rest. 



In the first place the eggs are de- 

 cidedly different. The Lesser Snow 

 Goose eggs being more elongated and 

 of a slighter yellowish color phase, 

 which on first notice appears almost 

 white, the eggs of the Blue are more 

 periform, and of thicker diameter, and 

 shorter in proportion to their lengtli. 



and have at times very slight bluish 

 cast, which however, appears white at 

 first glance. The shell texture is also 

 distinct, the Blue Goose eggs having 

 more minute pit-holes, similar to 

 those in the egg shells of the Ostrich, 

 and apparently most of these pit-holes 

 have a very small deep black center, 

 which can only be disclosed by a 

 microscope. 



The young of the Blue Goose in the 

 first downy stage is of a deep smoky, 

 or slaty, bluish color, and that of the 

 Lesser Snow Goose is of a very 

 slightly cream yellow color, similar to, 

 but lighter than that of the young of 

 Canada Goose. 



My Blue Goose, raised in confine- 

 ment on my home place at Lacon, Illi- 

 nois, photos of which have been pub- 

 lished repeatedly in "The Oologist," 

 began to show the first white feathers 

 about his head in January after he was 

 hatched; and the full white head and 

 neck did not appear until the moult 

 of the following summer, up to that 

 time there were numerous bluish 

 feathers, mixed with the white of the 

 head and neck. The build of the two 

 birds (of which I have more than a 

 dozen Lesser Snow and seven Blue) 

 is very different, and their physical 

 appearance is very distinct The call 

 notes are not very similar. So far 

 as I know I am the only person who 

 has succeeded in breeding the Blue 

 Goose in confinement and raising the 

 young to maturity. 



There is one peculiarity which seems 

 to be common to both species and 

 that is they are very prone to mate 

 with each other, and so far as I have 

 observed here the mating here is al- 

 ways the Blue Gander with the Lesser 

 Snow Goose, and when once paired in 

 this way they are truly hard to break 

 apart 



As the result of this cross-breeding, 

 which 1 have no doubt occasionally 

 takes place likewise in a wild state, 



