96 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



In Ontario the Snow Goose can only be regarded as a casual 

 visitor during the season of migration, for its sv;mmei' home, accoi'd- 

 ing to Dr. Bell, is "still to the north of the regions known to the 

 Eskimo,' whence it retires to the south at the approach of winter. 

 It is seen at different points in this province during spring and fall, 

 but as there are seldom more than two or three together, they are 

 regarded as stragglers fi'om the main body, whose line of migration 

 is along the Mississippi or the Pacific coast. The specimen in my 

 collection was killed at the Beach, in the month of December, a 

 few 3^ears ago, while making its way toward the open water in Lake 

 Ontario. 



Dr. Macallum, speaking of the occurrence of this species at Dunn- 

 ville, says: "The Greater Snow Goose is often seen here in small ilocks 

 in the fall, when they frequent fall-wheat fields near the lake, often 

 in company with the Canada Geese. I have three specimens in my 

 collection taken here, two of which came up to farmers' bai'ns witli 

 the tame ducks and were domesticated." 



Sir John Richardson, in the Fauna Horpdli Amfricana after 

 noting the abundance of these birds, continues: "The eggs, of a 

 yellowish-white color, and regularly ovate form, are a little largei' 

 than those of an Eider Duck, their length lieing three inches and their 

 greatest bi-eadth two. The young fiy in August, and by the middle 

 of Septeml)ei- all liave dejiarted southward. 



" The Snow Goose feeds on rushes, insects and, in autumn, on 

 berries, par'ticularly those of the empetrum nigvuin. ' \\'heii well 

 fed it is a very excellent bird, fai' superior to the Canada Goose in 

 juiciness and flavor. It is said that the young do not attain their full 

 plumage before the fourth year, and until that period they appear to 

 keep in separate flocks. They are numerous at Albany Foi-t, in the 

 southern part of Hudson's Bay, where the old birds are rarely seen, 

 and, on the other hand, the old birds in their migrations visit York 

 Factory in great abundance, but are seldom accompanied hx the 

 young." 



Samples of the eggs in the Smithsonian Institute agree exactly 

 with the above description, but show the usual variation in size, 

 some being noticeably less than three inches in length by over two 

 in bi'eadth. 



The occurrence of one specimpu of the Lesser Snow Goose (('hen 

 Jijjperhorea) is reported by Mr. W. E. Saunders. 



