630 EEPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Mr. Nelson found it breeding in Illinois (Birds Northeast Illinois, pp. 

 143, 144) and Prof. Cook says the late Mr. W. H. Collins reported 

 taking its eggs (presumably at St. Clair Flats, Mich.) (Birds of Michi- 

 gan, p. 45.) The stupidity of this duck is well known. Persons are at 

 times permitted to row up to it, when it seems apparently dazed or 

 sleeping. 



In the fall they appear about the first of October and depart later in 

 that month or in November. Dr. Wheaton says at this season they are 

 found in flocks of fifteen or twenty. 



SUBFAMILY ANSERIN.E. GEESE. 

 25. GENUS CHEN BOIE. 



a 1 . Plumage chiefly grayish-brown ; the rump, usually, and wing coverts, bluish- 

 gray. C. caerulescens (Linn.). 53 

 a 2 . Plumage, in adult, white; primaries black, their coverts gray; in young, 



grayish and grayish-white. 



fe 1 . Wing 17.00 or under. C. hyperborea (Pall.). 51 



b 2 . Wing over 17.00. C. hyperborea nivalis (Forst.). 52 



51. (169). Chen hyperborea (PALL.). 



Lesser Snow Goose. 

 Synonyms, ALASKA GOOSE, WHITE BRANT. 



Adult. Uniform pure white, the head often stained with rusty; 

 primaries black; their bases and coverts dark-gray. Young. Head, 

 neck and upper parts pale grayish, the feathers of the latter with 

 whitish edges and (especially wing coverts and tertials) striped med-" 

 ially with darker; rump, upper tail coverts, tail and lower parts plain 

 white. 



Length, about 23.00-28.00; wing, 14.50-17.00 (16.36); bill, 1.95- 

 2.30 (2.15); tarsus, 2.80-3.25 (3.01); middle toe, 2.00-2.50 (2.34). 



RANGE. Pacific Coast to the Mississippi Valley, breeding in 

 Alaska; south in winter from southern Illinois and southern Indiana 

 to gulf coast; southern California. Casually to New England. North- 

 eastern Asia. 



Nest, by side of water on ground, of grass and feathers. Eggs, 

 5-8; yellowish-white; 3.13 by 2.12. 



Rare migrant throughout the State; much more often seen in spring. 



Mr. Nelson thought that this species and the next were found in 

 Illinois in about equal numbers. 



In this State and the vicinity of Chicago what reports I have re- 

 ceived relate principally to this form. The two birds are similar in 

 appearance, except in size. They are at times found in flocks together 



