[132.] BIRDS OF OREGON 



Burns as early as September 2.7; and our latest fall record is December 10 

 (Klamath County). Our earliest spring date is February 10 (Klamath 

 County); our latest, April 2.7 (Multnomah County). 



With the advent of freezing weather, if not before, the snowy clans 

 move south into California, a few perhaps occasionally remaining in 

 Oregon through the winter. Our latest fall date of December 10 and our 

 earliest spring date of February 10 leave a comparatively short interval 

 during which the birds might easily remain through mild winters. They 

 winter in small numbers about Netarts, Tillamook, and Coos Bays and 

 are also occasionally seen in migration over the Willamette Valley, 

 seldom having stopped there in recent years. Jewett saw them on Gov- 

 ernment Island in April 1902., and Gabrielson several times noted them 

 in the same month flying over his home east of Portland. 



Ross's Goose: 



Chen rossi (Cassin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults: Base of upper mandible often rough and warty; bill com- 

 paratively small and without black stripe along side; plumage as in hyperborea." 

 (Bailey) Downy young [from birds raised in captivity]: "Mr. Blaauw (1903) de- 

 scribes the downy young as follows: 'The chicks are of a yellowish gray, darker on 

 the upper side and lighter below, and have, what makes them most conspicuously 

 beautiful, bright canary-yellow heads, with the most delicate grayish sheen over 

 them, caused by the extremity of the longer down hairs being of that color. The bill 

 is black, with a flesh-colored tip. A little spot in front of each eye is also blackish. 

 The legs are olive green.' " (Bent) Size: "Length zo-z6, wing 13.75-15.50, bill 

 1.50-1.70." (Bailey) Nesf: Unknown. Eggs: Number unknown, those laid by 

 captive birds 3 to 5, pure white. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeding range unknown. Winters in Sacramento and San 

 Joaquin Valleys. In Oregon: Known only as rare straggler. 



Ross's GOOSE, which is easily distinguished from the Lesser Snow Goose 

 by its small size and the roughened warty area at the base of the bill, is 

 listed in this State on the basis of two specimens. The first was reported 

 by Bendire (1877), as follows: 



A single specimen obtained on Silvies River, Oregon, April iz, 1876. It appears to be a rare 

 species, was shot out of a flock of twelve by Sergt. Kennedy of my company, and is now in 

 the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. 



The second, from Adel, Lake County, was killed November 6, 192.1, by 

 Mr. W. S. Wyble, of that place, and presented to Jewett. It is evident 

 that Oregon lies to the west of the main flight line of this little goose. It 

 stops regularly at Great Falls, Montana, and winters in the northern 

 Sacramento Valley, most of the records of its occurrence being in a direct 

 line between these two points. 



