CHElSr. — ANSEE. 201 



1. Chen hyperboreus. 



Anser hyperboreus, Pall. Spic. Zool. yi. p. 25 'j Duges, La Nat. i, p. 143'; Sumichr. La Nat. v. 



p. 234 \ 

 Chen hyperboreus, Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds N. Amer. i. p. 439*; Salvad. Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mus. xxvii, p. 84'; A. 0. U. Check-1. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 60'. 



Pure albus, pileo interdum ferrugineo tincto ; ala spuria et tectricibus primariorum cineraceis ; primariis nigris, 

 basin versus cinerascentibus : rostro purpurascenti-rubro, cnlminis ungue albo, margine tomiali nigro ; 

 pedibus purpurascentibus vel aurantiacis ; iride saturate brunnea. Loog. tota circa 28-0, alse 17"0, 

 caudae 6-3, culm. 2-3, tarsi 3-25. (Descr. maris adulti ex Corpus Christi, Texas. Mus. nostr.) 



? mari similis, sed minor. Long, tota circa 23-0, alae 14-5, caudae 6-3, culm. 1-95, tarsi 2-8. 



Jtiv. Supra brunnescenti-griseus, notsei plumis albido limbatis ; tectricibus alarum, secundariis externis 

 rectricibusque latius marginatis ; uropygio, supracaudalibus et corpore subtus toto pure albis : rostro 

 nigricante ; pedibus plumbeis ; iride brunnea. 



Hah. NoETH America, Greenland^; Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley, breeding 

 in Alaska ; south in winter to Southern Illinois and Southern California ; casually 

 to New England®. — Mexico, Guanajuato (Duges^), savannas of the Pacific coast 

 {Sumichrast ^). — N.E. Asia^ ; Northekn Europe, accidental^. 



C. hyperboreus breeds in the Tundra or Barren Grounds of Arctic America, arriving 

 in its northern habitat in the spring, at first in small parties, but afterwards in such 

 amazing numbers that the marshes, at a little distance off", occasionally appear to be 

 covered with snow, owing to the white plumage of these birds. In winter it is 

 found on the lakes of the interior, and occurs in enormous numbers off the coast of 

 California, whence the species extends into Western Mexico. 



The Snow-Goose migrates along both coasts of North America, and is abundant 

 off the mouth of the Mississippi and on the muddy and grassy shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico, the flocks of old and young birds generally keeping separate, according to 

 Audubon, the immature individuals being recognizable by their grey plumage. 

 C. hyperboreus is said to be a more silent species than the other migratory Geese, 

 rarely emitting any cry, except when pursued or wounded. 



The nest consists of a hole in the sand, well lined with down. The eggs are of a 

 uniform dirty or yellowish-white colour. 



ANSER. 

 Anser, Briss. Orn. vi. p. 261 (1760) ; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 88 (1895). 



As in the genus Chen, the serrations on the cutting-edge of the upper mandible of 

 the species of Anser are visible from outside, and the tomium is decidedly sinuate- or 

 concave ; but the bill is weaker and more depressed, its depth at the base being 

 less than half the length of the culmen. The plumage of the adult is never entirely 

 white. The only true Goose which occurs within our limits is the large white-fronted 

 A. gambeli. 



BIOL. CENTR.-AMEE., Aves, Vol. III., January 1902. 26 



