Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 239 
Hunters, especially on the Missouri River, still bring in com- 
paratively large numbers of these geese and they are becoming 
more scarce every year. 
When the ‘‘Migratory Bird Act’’ is enforced, if not too late, 
it is hoped that all the geese will immediately begin to increase. 
CHEN HYPERBOREUS NIVALIS (J. R. Forster). Greater Snow 
oose. 
Not very common migrant. 
This form of Snow Goose is not of such regular or common 
occurrence as the preceding but is occasionally taken by hunt- 
ers. Only a few large Snow Geese have been seen during recent 
years and it is considered much more rare than formerly. 
There are five authentic records of its occurrence here during 
the past several seasons. 
It is difficult to distinguish in the field from the smaller 
form. 
CHEN CAERULESCENS (Linn.). Blue Goose. 
Common migrant. 
The time of arrival and departure of this goose is about the 
Same as the Snow Goose except that it does not arrive so early 
as February. 
Though not so abundant as formerly, the presence here of 
Some very large flocks during the past two years encourages 
the hope that the species may be on the increase. Flocks of 
from 50 to 250 are not uncommonly seen on the Missouri River. 
ANSER ALBIFRONS GAMBELI Hartlaub. White-fronted Goose. 
Fairly common migrant. 
Small flocks of White-fronted Geese sometimes arrive as early 
as the last week in February but the main flight is about a 
month later. They return about the middle of October and 
the last are seen sometimes as late as early December. These 
occasional February and December records have led some ob- 
Servers to think that the bird remains in mild winters. This 
'S not believed to be the case since extended field work during 
amie in several open winters has failed to show them pres- 
ent. 
Troops of a few dozen birds are commonly seen all through 
migration times on the Missouri River and on April 12, 1917, 
@ flock of 250 was observed. 
