48 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



They reach Oberlin about the middle of April and may 

 linger until the 10th of May. The return is early in Octo- 

 ber and some remain a month or six weeks. 



Subfamily ANSERINE. Geese. 



There are six species of geese in the state, none of them 

 really common now, none of them breeding here. They are 

 much more terrestrial than any of the ducks, feeding upon 

 grains and the green herbage. In the water they feed like 

 river ducks (by tipping up, searching the bottom of a shal- 

 low pool for the roots and fruit of aquatic plants). They fly 

 in regular order with a leader. 



51. (169.) CHEN HYPERBOREA (Pall.). 243 (part). 



Lesser Snow Goose. 



Synonyms: Chen hyperboreus, Anser hyperboreus, Chen hyper- 

 boreus albatus. 

 Alaska Goose, White Brant. 



There is no published record of this species as an Ohio 

 bird. Reports give it as rare in Allen, Erie, Hamilton, and 

 Perry counties. Everywhere it is reported as rare, and as 

 usually occurring in company with the other species. 



52. (169a.) CHEN HYPERBOREA NIVALIS (Forst.). 243 



(part). 

 = . Greater Snow Goose. 



Synonyms: Chen hyperboreus Anser nivalis, A. hyperboreus. 



Snow Goose, Alaska Goose, White Brant. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 166, 186. 



This larger species seems to be no more common than 

 the last. It is reported from Scioto, Pike, Perry, Hamilton, 

 and Erie counties. These Snow Geese are too conspicuous- 

 ly different from the other geese to make any mistake of 

 identification possible. It is very desirable that specimens 

 in the collections be critically examined to determine the 

 status of each form. 



