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 hypeeborbus nivalis (J. R. Forster). Greater Snow- 

 Goose. 

 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 caeeulbscens (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. 



Ansee albipeons 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 

 is not believed to be the ease since extended field work during 

 January 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, 

 a flock of 250 was observed. 



