NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



83 



(69. Lesser Snow Goose.. Chen hyperborea. 



Range. North Amer- 

 ica west of the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, breeding 

 in northern" Alaska and 

 the Mackenzie River 

 district. 



This smaller species 

 of the Snow Goose nests 

 on islands in rivers 

 along the Arctic coast. 

 The nest is a depression 

 in the ground, lined 

 with grasses and, occa- 

 sionally down. They 

 lay from four to eight 

 eggs of a buffy or yel- 

 lowish white color. Size 

 2.75 x 1.75. 



[Grayish white.] 



I 69a. Greater Snow Goose. Chen hyperborea nivalis. 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering 

 chiefly on the Atlantic coast, south to Cuba. 



This bird is like the preceding; except in size; about thirty-six inches, instead 

 of twenty-six inches in length as is the lesser variety. The entire plumage is 

 white except for the black primaries. They construct their nests of grasses on 

 the ground the same as the preceding variety. The eggs number from five to 

 eight and are cream colored. Size 3.40 x 2.40. 



169.1. Blue Goose. Chen ccerulescens. 



Range. North America, principally in the interior, breeding from Hudson 

 Bay northward and wintering along the Gulf coast. 



This species may always be recognized by the entirely white head and neck. 

 the body being grayish or bluish gray, they nest on the ground as do Jin- 

 other geese laying from four to eight eggs of a brownish buff color. Size 2.50 x 

 1.75. Data. Cape Bathurst, Arctic coast, June 29, 1899. Four eggs laid in a 

 depression lined with grass, on an island. Collected with the parent birds by 

 the Esquimaux. 



I 70. Ross Snow Goose. Chen rossi. 



Range. This beautiful species, which is similar in plumage to the large Snow 

 Goose, is but twenty-one inches in length. It breeds in the extreme north, and 

 in winter is found in the western part of the United States as far south as the 

 Gulf of Mexico. Their nesting habits and eggs probably do not differ from 

 others in the family except in the matter of size. 



[171.] White-fronted Goose. Anseralbifrons. 



This European species is exactly like the American except that it is said to 

 average a trifle smaller. It is occasionally found in Greenland. 



