BIRDS OF XEW YORK 229 



is often a rusty tinge on the head and belh*. Young birds have the head 

 and neck dark grayish brown and the bill and feet dusky. 



Length 25-30 inches; wing i5-i7;bill 2.1-2.28, depth of ])ill at base 1.37 ; 

 tarsus 3-3.25; middle toe and nail 2.77; outer toe 2.62; inner toe 2.12; 

 rear toe .67. 



Blue snow goose, Blue-winged goose. Blue wavv, White-headed blue 

 brant, or White-headed goose, as this bird is called b)' gunners in different 

 localities, is one of the rarest waterfowl which visit the waters of New York 

 State. Many ornithologists have considered it merely the young of the 

 Snow goose, but at the present time the consensus of opinion seems to be 

 that it is a perfectly good species. The amateur may distinguish it by the 

 white head and l:)luish wings and rump, since the young of the Snow goose 

 is never known to have a white head when in dark plumage. Its habits 

 and notes resemble those of the Snow goose and its breeding range is stipposed 

 to be somewhere in the Hudson bay region. 



Several specimens of the Blue goose taken within the State have been 

 jjreserved in mviseums as follows : 



Shinnecock bay. L. I. L. I. Hist. Soc. Col. Dutcher, Auk, 10: 270 



Amityville, L. I. Nov. 22, 1893. ?. (Chichester). Dutcher Collection 



Cavuga, N. Y. Apr. i, 1896. rv 9 . Foster Parker. Collection of vState Museum 



Schenevus, N. Y. Mar. 23, 1898. Collection of State Museum 



Amagansett, L. I. Mar. 2 i , 1887. (Edwards). Collection of Lvicas & Buck, Sag Harbor. 



Dutcher 

 Miller's Place, L. I. Apr. 28, 1883. A flock of 10 seen. (Arthur H. Hclmc). Dutcher 



Anser albifrons gambeli (Hartlauli) 

 A;)icrica)i Whitc-jrontcd Goose 



Plate 21 



A n s e r g a m b c 1 i Hartlaub. Rev. Mag. Zool. 1852. 7 



Anser a 1 b i f r o n s DeKay. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 349, fig. 236 



Anser albifrons gambeli A. 0. U. Check List. Ed. 2. 1895. ^^- 171a 



al'bifrons, Lat., with white foreheail; gain'beli, of William Gambel 



Description. Adult: Forehead white, bordered behind with black; 

 upper parts brownish ash; breast and bell\' brownish white broadlv banded 



