2 26 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



definite proof. This species appears in the spring from the loth to the 20th 

 of March and it is commonest about the loth of April and usually passes 

 northward before the ist of May. It returns from the north from September 

 25th to October 15th and passes southward from November ist to 20th. 

 This species is found breeding in such widely separated localities as Ungava, 

 Great Slave lake, Lower California, Guatemala, Porto Rico and Cape Cod. 

 Its principal summer home, however, is from Dakota to the Saskatchewan. 

 This curious little duck is so unlike our other sea ducks, both in the 

 structure of its bill, its general build, its spiny tail and its habits that it has 

 been given a great number of local names, according to Trumbull and Coues, 

 reaching a total of 60 and upward. Many systematists likewise would make 

 it the type of a subfamily (Erismaturinae). Its colloquial names tell its 

 natural history from the gunner's standpoint : Dumpling duck, Butter duck. 

 Deaf duck, Sleepy-head, Diving teal. Widgeon-coot, Booby-coot, Bumblebee- 

 coot, Bristle-tail, Spoon-billed butterball. Broad-billed dipper, Hickory- 

 head, Shot -pouch, Chvmk duck (western New York), Paddy -whack, and 

 40 others. 



Chen hyperborea hyperborea (Pallas) 

 Lesser Snoiv Goose 



Anser hvperboreus Pallas. Spicil. Zool. 1769. 6:25 



Chen hyperborea A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 2: 1895. ^o- 169 



citcii, Gr x'/i'. goose; hyperborea, Lat., hyperborean, far northern 



Distinguishing marks. Differs from the Greater snow goose only in size ; 

 from the Blue goose as noted under that species. 



Length 24-26 inches; wing 14. 5-17 ; tail 5.5 ; tarsus 2.75-3,3 ; bill 2-2.15. 



According to Professor Cooke, [Biol. Sur. Bui. 26, p. 65-67], this species 

 is confined principally to the region west of the Mississippi river during 

 migration, winters most abundantly from Louisiana to Texas and Mexico, 

 and probably breeds on the islands of the Arctic ocean, "immediately to 

 the north of Banks Land." 



In Mr Dutcher's Long Island collection there are two specimens of 

 Snow geese, no. 107 and 1200, both immature, which fall within the dimen- 



