Vol- JXVI1-] General Notes. 337 



Chatham.* There seem to be but very few records for the Atlantic coast. 

 Two were shot in New Jersey on April 5, 1877 -; one was shot by Augustus 

 Dexter on Oneida Lake, N. Y., on October 30, 1891,' and only three have 

 ever been reported from Long Island, all from Great South Bay. One 

 was taken in 1840,^ one in 1889,* and one in 1908.* As far as is known these 

 are the only three from that locality. This then makes but seven records 

 for the Atlantic coast, with a total of but eight birds.' — S. Prescott F.\y, 

 Boston, Mass. 



Notes on Chen caerulescens, Chen rossi, and other Waterfowl in Louisi- 

 ana. — While Audubon's statement that "The Snow Goose in the grey 

 state of its plumage is very abundant in winter, about the mouths of the 

 Mississippi, as well as on all the muddy and grassy shores of the bays and 

 inlets of the Gulf of Mexico as far as the Texas" ' undoubtedly refers to 

 Chen crerulescens, and, notwithstanding the fact of the occurrence of the 

 species in large numbers in that region has been reiterated by Beyer ° 

 and Mcllhenny,*" the impression is general that the Blue Goose is a rare bird. 



Professor Cooke speaks of it as "this rather rare goose," '* and Sanford 

 says: " In its full spring phmiage the Blue Goose is seldom taken in the .... 

 United States, and it is perhaps the rarest of our geese." '- Moreover, 

 these statements are typical of allusions to the species in most ornitho- 

 logical writings. 



It was with pleasure therefore that the writer, while on a trip in the 

 interests of the Biological Survey, during the past winter, found the Blue 

 Geese abundant in southern Louisiana, probably just as numerous as in 

 the days of Audubon. The localities visited were the delta of the Missis- 

 sippi River, specifically, Octave, Main, 27, and other passes entered through 

 Cubit Gap, and Belle Isle and the surrounding region to the west of Ver- 

 million Bay. Not only were Blue Geese found in flocks of thousands, but 

 it was learned also that on account of their great numbers, they do much 

 damage to pastures, especially in the vicinity of Belle Isle and Chenjere- 

 au-Tigre. 



1 Cory, C. B., Auk, Vol. I, 1884, p. 96. 



2 Scott, W. E D., Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, 1879, p. 226. 



3 Bagg, Egbert, Auk, Vol. XI, 1894, p. 163. 



* Butcher, William, ibid., Vol. X, 1893, p. 271 

 6 Dutebsr, William, ibid.. Vol. X, 1893, p. 266. 



6 Herrirk, N. L , ibid.. Vol. XXV, 1908, p. 473. 



7 [To these should be added the type specimen of the species, taken at Great Egg 

 Harbor, New Jersey, in January, 1846 (c/. Lawrence, G. N., Ann. Lye. N. H. 

 N. Y., IV, 1846, p. 171, pi. xii), and two others taken later the same winter. There 

 are also several later records tor New Jersey in addition to those given above (c/. 

 Stone, Birds of New Jersey, 1908 (1909), p. 96). — Ed.] 



8 Orn. Biogr., V, 1838, p. 562. 



9 Proc. Louisiana Soc. Nat., 1900, p. 90. 



10 Auk, XIV, 1897, p. 287. 



11 Bull. 26, Biological Survey, 1906, p. 68. 



12 The Waterfowl Family, 1903, p. 227. 



