CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 121 



169a. Greater Snow Goose. 



Chen hyperborea nivalis (FoRST.) Ridgw. 1884. 



Described from a specimen collected at Severn river, Hudson bay. 

 Preble cites many records of its having been taken in the vicinity 

 of Hudson bay, and it is probable that the Hudson bay references 

 under C. hyperborea should go here. 



A few young birds are taken occasionally in Greenland, in New- 

 foundland and Nova Scotia; accidental in New Brunswick. The 

 same may be said of its occurence in Quebec and Ontario. A very 

 abundant migrant in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan in the 

 spring. In the autumn it migrates farther west and goes south 

 chiefly through Alberta and western Saskatchewan. 



A small flock of snow geese was seen at Elmsdale, Muskoka, Ont., 

 in the spring of 1 898, and about a year later Mr. Handy 'saw a flock 

 of about seven pass north over Elmsdale. (/. H. Fleming.) Rather 

 rare migrant at Aweme, Man. First seen, April 26, 1902; last, 

 October 12, igo6. (Criddle.) 



Breeding Notes. — The remarks made by me under Chen hyper- 

 borea belong in part to this species, as at the time the eggs were 

 collected the forms were not separated. (Macfarlane.) Breeding 

 in immense numbers in the Barren Grounds Along the Arctic coast. 

 (Richardson.) Breeding on the Twin islands, James bay, in 1898. 

 (A. P. Low.) I have a set of five eggs taken at Franklin bay, June 

 9th, 1899. The nest consisted of a depression in the sand lined with 

 down from the mother's breast. (Raine.) 



169.1. Blue Goose. 



Chen ccerulescens (LiNN.) Gundl. 1865-66. 



Interior of North America, breeding on eastern shores of Hudson 

 bay and migrating south in 'winter. Occasional on Atlantic coast. 

 (A. 0. U. List.) Said to be found principally about the southern 

 part of Hudson bay, and according to Indian information breeds 

 in northern Labrador. Recorded from several places on Hudson 

 bay. (Preble.) In a flock of twenty-two geese seen at Fullerton, 

 Hudson bay, the first two in the flock seemed to be blue geese. 

 (A. P. Low.) 



