Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 45 



entiate between the varieties seems to be almost a useless refine- 

 ment." 



169.1. Chen caerulescens (Linn.). Blue Goose. 



Anas caerulescens. Anser caerulescens. Blue-winged Goose. Young of 

 Snow Goose. 



Geog. Dist. — Interior of North America. Breeding ground 

 unknown but thought to be on eastern shores of Hudson Bay. 

 In winter through Mississippi Valley to Gulf coast, chiefly west 

 of the Mississippi River. 



In Missouri the Blue Goose is a fairly common transient visi- 

 tant in spring in flocks by themselves or mixed with Snow Geese. 

 Available dates run from March 17 to April 2; no fall record is 

 at present at hand. Formerly considered to be the young or a 

 colored phase of the Snow Goose, this species did not receive 

 that measure of observers' attention which it deserves. More- 

 over the young of the two species resemble each other perfectly 

 in form and size, and enough in color to make identification at a 

 distance difficult. Both, old and young, were formerly not rare 

 in the St. Louis market. Two fine specimens of adult birds 

 are in the Eimbeck, one in the Hurter collection and some in 

 several other private collections in St. Louis. 



171a. Anser albifrons gambeli (Hartl.). American White- 

 fronted Goose. 



Anser gambeli. Anser albifrons. Anser frontalis. Speckle-belly. Laugh- 

 ing Goose. 



Geog. Dist. — North America generally, rare on the Atlantic 

 coast, common in migration in the Mississippi Valley and in the 

 Pacific States. Breeds in Greenland and on the mainland along 

 the Arctic coast to the Yukon River. Winters from British 

 Columbia to Cape St. Lucas and Jalisco, and from lower Missis- 

 sippi Valley and southern Texas to northern Mexico; also in 

 Cuba. 



In Missouri the Speckle-belly, also called Brant by hunters, 

 though less abundant than formerly, is still a fairly common 

 transient visitant from early in March to the latter part of April, 

 and in October and the first half of November. 



172. Branta canadensis (Linn.). Canada Goose. 



Anas canadensis. Bernicla canadensis. Wild Goose. 



Geog. Dist. — North America; breeding from Tennessee, Ar- 

 kansas, northern Colorado, southern Oregon, northward to and 



