ONTARIO. 



most of their haul, but although the birds attracted a good deal 

 of attention from their bright blue bills and rich brown plumage, 

 they did not meet with a ready sale. A few pairs visit us reg- 

 ularly in the spring and fall : I have seen them at St. Clair in 

 June, evidently mated, and was told that they breed sparingly 

 throughout the marsh there. 



SUBFAMILY ANSERINE. GEESE. 



GENUS CHEN BOIE. 



59. CHEN HYPERBOREA NIVALIS (FoRsx.). 169 a. 

 Greater Snow Goose 



Bill with laminae very prominent, owing to arching of the the edges of the 

 bill. Adult plumage pure white, but in most specimens the head washed 

 with rusty-red ; primaries broadly black-tipped ; bill, lake-red with white 

 nail ; feet the same with dark claws. " Young, dull bluish or pale lead col- 

 ored on the head and upper part of the body" (Cassin). Length, about 30 ; 

 wing, 17-19 ; tail, 5^-6 ; bill, 2 : tarsus, 3^, 



HAB. North America, breeding far north, and migrating south in win- 

 ter, chiefly along the Atlantic coast, reaching Cuba. 



The Snow Goose is widely distributed throughout the conti- 

 nent, raising its young in high latitudes, and retiring to the south 

 at the approach of winter. During the latter season vast flocks 

 are found along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and sparingly 

 along the Atlantic sea-board. In Ontario it can only be regard- 

 ed as a casual visitor during the season of migration, and, as it 

 is seldom that more than two or three are seen together, 

 they are looked upon as stragglers from the main body, whose 

 line of migration is chiefly along the Mississippi or the Pacific 

 coast. The specimen in my collection was killed at the Beach 

 in the month of December a few years since, while making its 

 way toward the open water in Lake Ontario. 



GENUS ANSER BRISSON. 



60. ANSER ALBIFRONS GAMBELI (HARTL.). 171 a. 



% 

 American White-fronted Goose. 



Laminae of bill moderately exposed ; tail normally of sixteen feathers. 

 Under-parts white or gray, extensively blotched with black ; back dark-gray; 



69 



