226 The Water-fowl Family 



up the Mississippi Valley to Illinois. Migrates through the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley, west to Manitoba and North Dakota. Occurs 

 very rarely in migration or winter in California and in Ontario, 

 Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Brunswick (?), 

 Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jer- 

 sey(?), North Carolina, Florida (?), and the West Indies. 



For a long time the blue goose was supposed 

 to be the young of the snow goose, but it is now 

 established as a distinct species. 



This bird occurs throughout North America. 

 In Dakota, and along the Mississippi Valley, 

 small numbers are killed on the fall migration. 

 On the Pacific Coast the bird has not been taken, 

 and is very rare on the Atlantic, a specimen hav- 

 ing been recorded on Grand Manan. 



The breeding-ground is supposed to be in the 

 impassable bogs lying northeast of Labrador, 

 the geese nesting on the solid and dry tufts in 

 the morasses. (B. B. & R.) The eggs and nest 

 have not been found. 



In the spring James Bay is crossed by the blue 

 geese, coming from the east in flocks by them- 

 selves. In the United States the bird arrives in 

 early October, leaving late in March. It is most 

 frequently seen in flocks of snow geese, and un- 

 doubtedly accompanies the white-fronted goose, 

 though its presence with the latter would be less 

 easily detected. Its southern migration extends 

 to Louisiana and the Gulf. The habits resemble 

 those of the snow goose. Its flesh is palatable. 



