key to tiik ^^'ater birds of florida. 237 



Subfamily ANSERIN^^. Geese. 



Genus CHEN Boie. 



CHEN HYPERBOREA NIVALIS (Forst). 

 Greater Snow Goose. 



General plumage white ; primaries black and 



primary coverts paie ash. The immature bird 



has the head, neck, and upper parts mottled gray 



and white ; the rump and tail are white : under 



\ parts white. 



Length, 34; Wing, 17.40; Bill, 2.50: Tarsus, 

 3.10. 



This species ranges throughout North America. Its 

 breeding place is unknown, but is probably in the far 

 North. It ranges in winter south to the Greater An- 

 tilles. It is not a common bird in Florida, but speci- 

 mens occasionalh' occur there. It has been taken in 

 Key West and a number of times on the west coast. 



CHEN C/CRULE5CENS (Z/w/.). 

 Blue Goose. 



Head and neck white or buff; dusky gray on 

 the neck and back, shading into whitish on the 

 under parts ; wings ashy gray, the rump and 

 upper tail coverts grayish white or white ; some 

 of the quills and tail feathers dusky, showing- 

 white on the edges; primaries are black. 



The immature bird of this species has the 

 liead and neck grayish brown, shading into dull 

 white on the chin. 



Length, 30; Wing, 16; Bill. 2.20; Tarsus. 3.10. 



The habits of this species are but little known, and for a long time it 

 was supposed to be the young of the Snow Goose. 



