86 



BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



darker; rump, upper tail-coverts, tail and lower parts plain white. L., 23.00-28.00; W., 14.50- 

 17.00; B., 1.95-2.30; Tar., 2.80-3.25" (Ridgw.). (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. North America, breeding far northerly, in winter restricted mainly to the more 

 western States; rare in the east. 



Range in North Carolina. Accidental on the coast. 



Here we have a western bird, more commonly known in California and on the 

 marshes of the Louisiana coast which it frequents in winter. Apparently it is 

 quite rare on the Atlantic coast, and we know of its appearing in North Carolina 

 upon one occasion only. Bishop writes that he examined in the flesh a female taken 

 by Dr. C. C. Bush at Pea Island, February 5, 1906. 



67. Chen hyperboreus nivalis (Forst.). GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 



Description. Similar to the preceding in color, but larger. L., 35.00; W., 17.50; B., 2.60. 

 Range. Eastern North America, breeding far northerly, in winter from Chesapeake Bay 

 to West Indies. 



Range in North Carolina. -Portions of coastal region in winter. 



FIG. 56. GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 



The " White Brant," as the Greater Snow Goose is almost universally known to 

 gunners, is a rare bird along the southern half of the North Carolina coast. On 

 January 1, 1903, Pearson saw one standing among the sand dunes at Cape Hat- 

 teras. It showed no disposition to fly until his horse and cart approached within 

 fifty yards. Then it sprang into the air, and heading up wind flew rapidly for 



