BLUE GOOSE. 283 



and Clarke. They are very abundant in Siberia, and the 

 natives often take them in nets by means of rude decoys. In 

 that frozen climate they afford a great article of subsistence ; 

 each family killing thousands in a season, which are laid up in 

 bulk, in holes in the earth, and made use of as occasion 

 requires. 



The breeding area of this variety is not known with certainty, 

 but it probably lies in the Barren Ground region between Green- 

 land and the Mackenzie River, the larger number of the birds 

 nesting towards the western limit of their range. 



The birds winter on the Atlantic shores of the Southern States 

 and in the West Indies, and go north chiefly by way of the Mis- 

 sissippi valley. Only a few individuals are seen on the New Eng- 

 land and Canadian shores. Immense flocks are met with on the 

 Great Plains. 



Note. — The Lesser Snow Goose {Chen hyperborea), the Western 

 form of this species, which breeds in Alaska, is found in winter 

 occasionally in southern Illinois, and casually in New England. 



BLUE GOOSE. 



blue wavey. 



Chen c^erulescens. 



Char. Back grayish brown ; head, neck, and rump white ; wings 

 bluish gray, shading to black on ends ; tail dusky ; under parts white ; 

 bill and feet purplish red. Length about 25 inches. 



Nest and Eggs. Unknown. 



After much contention and relegation for a time to the " Hypo- 

 thetical List," under the supposition that it was the young of the 

 Snow Goose, this has been admitted as a valid species 



Its breeding area lies along the shores of Hudson Bay, and its 

 winter home is on the Gulf coast, whence it migrates chiefly along 

 the valley of the Mississippi. Mr. William Butcher reports that 

 the bird is " an accidental visitor" to Long Island. 



In habits the Blue Goose does not differ materially from its 

 allies. 



