182 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF .SCIENCES. 



other by their measurements. Dr. Cones says of the Greater 

 Snow Goose (Key to N. A. Birds, 5th Ed., ii, 900): "The 

 dimensions grade down to those of the preceding ; both vary 

 much and are specifically inseparable, but their extremes are far 

 apart, and there is generally a difference which enables us to refer 

 specimens to one or the other." The Lesser Snow Goose is said 

 by most authorities to be found chiefly in western North Amer- 

 ica, commonl}' in the Mississippi Valley, and less regularly along 

 the Atlantic coast ; while the Greater Snow Goose is said to be 

 confined more to eastern North America. Both species breed in 

 the far north, passing through the United States only during 

 migrations. Both species are commonly known as "White 

 Brant" in Iowa, and their close similarity has led to great con- 

 fusion of records, it being practicall}' impossible to distinguish 

 them apart unless the bird is in the hand. 



The reports of observers vary as to its abundance: Black- 

 hawk^ — "occasional migrant" (Walters); "frequent migrant" 

 (Peck) . Decatur — Mahaska — ■' ' common spring and fall migrant; 

 rarely alights " (Trippe, Proc. Bost. Soc, xv, 1872, 241). Frank- 

 lin — " abundant migrant " (Shoemaker). Boone — " comes tons 

 from the south sometimes as early as January, and scatter along 

 through February and March, according to the season. Can 

 often be found along the Des Moines River, at times in compan}' 

 with the more hardy species of ducks" (Henning). Jackson — ■ 

 " rare transient " (Giddings). Lee — (reported by H. W. Parker, 

 Am. Nat., V, 1871, 169); " rare migrant " (Praeger); "migrant, 

 not common" (Currier). Linn — "spring and fall migrant" 

 (Bailey). Polk — Sioux — "migrant" (Johnson). Pottawattamie 

 — Mills — "common migrant" (Trostler). Scott — "rare tran- 

 sient ; always seen in flocks with the Canada Goose. Seven 

 April 16, 1886 ; four March 22, 1890 ; four April i, 1891 " (Wil- 

 son). Van Buren — "spring migrant, very rare" (Savage). 

 Winnebago — " migrant ".(Halvorsen); " I have only observed it 

 as a rare straggler with flocks of American White-fronted Geese" 

 (Anderson). Woodbury — "common transient. The Lesser is 

 often in the market" (Rich). John Krider (Forty Years' Notes, 

 71), states that he found it in Iowa, where they pass in great 

 numbers in April, stopping to feed in the grain fields." 



The Museum of Natural History in the State University of 



