ZOOLOGICAL 
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NESTING L 
SOCIETY BULLETIN 
SER SNOW GEESE 
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The first time in captivity ever recorded in America. 
BREEDING THE SNOW GOOSE FIRST 
TIME IN AMERICA 
By Lee S. Cranpaur, Curator of Birds. 
URING the few years that immediately 
» preceded the outbreak of the war, the 
propagation of game birds in captivity 
gained many followers and finally became a 
well-defined movement. Since 1914, this work, 
like the work of many others of a similar nature, 
has been practically dormant, but in spite of 
all obstacles, a few enthusiasts have been able 
to continue in a small way, and although the re- 
sults in most cases have not been particularly 
striking, in at least one instance, a record of 
unusual interest has been made. This is the 
breeding for the first time in America of the 
lesser snow goose, (Chen hyperborea hyper- 
borea). 
Naturally enough, the attentions of American 
game breeders have been centered on our native 
species. Success with upland game birds has 
not been great; the difficulties of breeding the 
bobwhite not being entirely overcome and the 
problems of rearing the ruffed grouse remaining 
almost untouched. Among waterfowl, much 
more has been accomplished. The Canada goose, 
the mallard duck and the wood duck now breed 
so freely that they might be considered as 
domestic birds. Besides these, there are well- 
authenticated records of the reproduction in 
captivity of the following North American 
species: fulvous tree duck, black duck, gadwell, 
green-wing teal, blue-wing teal, pintail, shov- 
eller, redhead and canvasback. Progress is be- 
ing made with these and possibly other forms, 
and the sum of our knowledge concerning them 
is fast increasing. : 
While distinct progress is being made with 
ducks, it is a curious fact that the only North 
American goose that breeds freely is the Canada. 
At least fifty years ago, this bird was bred by 
Mr. A. W. Whealton, of Chincoteague, Virginia, 
and now nests in captivity the country over as 
regularly as domestic geese. But with the ex- 
ception of the present instance of the lesser 
snow goose, there is no record of the breeding 
in captivity in this country of any other native 
goose. 
The causes of this strange reluctance to repro- 
duce are not fully known. White-fronted, great- 
er and lesser snow, Ross, blue, cackling and 
Hutchins geese have been kept in the Zoological 
Park for periods of well over ten years, under 
all sorts of conditions, and while most of the 
birds mate in the spring, their interest invaria- 
bly wanes when the nesting period is at hand. 
Many of them have been kept on Lake Aggasiz, 
where they have the run of grasslands several 
acres in extent, with a clean, well-supplied lake 
of even larger size. Here they are wholly un- 
disturbed, since our visitors can see them only 
at a distance, yet to our knowledge, none of 
them has ever laid an egg. Pairs have been 
