THE GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 575 



imbedded. He had carefully cleaned the sternum and left the head of the 

 projectile as it had been found. Thus was solved the problem of the way in 

 which this implement was transported from the borders of the Arctic Sea 

 to the rich fields of northwestern Indiana." 



Chen hyperborea is the better known form and the only one of the four 

 whose eggs have been certainly identified. It is less common in Ohio than 

 the following species, altho the two are estimated to be about equal in numbers 

 as far east as Illinois. 



No. 276. 



GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 



A. O. U. No. 169 a. Chen hyperborea nivalis (Forst.). 



Description. Quite like preceding species but decidedly larger; bill stouter 

 and relatively longer. Length 30.00-38.00 (j62.-<^6^.2) ; wing 17.40 (442.) ; tail 

 6.85 (174.) ; bill 2.40 (61.) ; tarsus 3.25 (82.6) ; middle toe and claw 2.80 (71.1). 



Recognition Marks. Brant to Eagle size ; same as preceding species, larger. 



Nest and Eggs unknown. 



General Range. North America, breeding far north (east of Mackenzie 

 basin) and migrating south in winter, chiefly along the Atlantic Coast, reaching 

 Cuba. 



Range in Ohio. Occasional spring and fall migrant. 



"SNOW-BANKS" of Geese are still reported from the Hudson Bay 

 regions, but they are rapidly melting before the incessant flashings of the 

 white man's gun. According to Hearne, the Snow Geese were the most 

 numerous birds during migrations in the northern part of Hudson Bay, mak- 

 ing their appearance a week or ten days later than the Canada Geese. The 

 breeding place of this species was not known either to the Indians of Hudson 

 Bay or to the Esquimaux of the extreme north. 



Snow Geese are easily distinguished during the migrations by their white 

 plumage with the sharply contrasting black on the tips of the wing-quills. 

 Altho very noisy in their northern resorts, they are usually silent in the south ; 

 but occasionally, when on the wing, utter high, cackling notes. 



