78 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



structed. Seven Ruddy Ducks' eggs were found in a Coot's nest, from 

 which, a few weeks previous, a set of the Coot's eggs were obtained. 

 The locality usually selected for a breeding place is some deep, slug- 

 gish stream, lake or pond, and the nests are always built close to the 

 water's edge ; they are composed of reeds, dry rushes and grass. The 

 structure is often made so that it will float, similar to a grebe's nest. 

 The male is a handsome bird; its general color is glossy chestnut, 

 and the lower parts silvery white ; the chin and sides of the head are 

 dead white, the crown and nape glossy black. The female is brown 

 above, finely dotted, and waved with dusky ; below paler and duller. 

 From its peculiar stiff tail feathers, I have often heard hunters call it 

 the "Sprig-tail," a name, however, applied to the Pin-tail Duck. It 

 is also called Dipper Duck. The eggs are grayish-white, ovoid or oval 

 in shape, with a finely granulated surface ; sizes range from 2.35 to 

 2.50 long by 1.70 to 1.80 broad. They appear large for the size of the 

 bird. 



169. Chen hyperborea (Pall.) [spia.] 



Xiesser Suo'w Goose. 



Hab. Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley, breeding in Alaska; south in winter to Southern Illinois 

 and Southern California. 



There are several forms of the Snow Goose which exist in North 

 America; two are designated by their respective sizes, namely, Desser 

 and Greater. The Lesser species breeds in Alaska, and occurs through- 

 out the northwestern portions of the continent, and in winter migrates 

 over the whole of the country, from the Pacific coast to the Mississippi 

 Valley. The Greater Snow Goose, Chen hyperborea nivalis (Forst.), 

 according to Prof. Ridgway, occurs in Eastern North America; its 

 breeding grounds are unknown, but they are probably in the Arctic 

 regions east of the Mackenzie river. In winter it is found in the 

 United States from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic coast.* 



Ross's Snow Goose, C. rossii (Baird), is found in summer in the 

 interior of Arctic America, migrating, south in winter to Southern Cali- 

 fornia and eastward to Montana. 



The Blue Snow Goose, C. ccsrulescens (Ivinn.),t inhabits the interior 

 of North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, breeding on the east- 

 ern shores of Hudson's Bay, migrating south in winter through the 

 Mississippi Valley to the Gulf coast, and is found occasionally on the 

 Atlantic coast. 



There seems to be very little known regarding the nidification of 

 the Snow Goose. 



*Manual of N. A. Birds, p. 115. 



fThis bird is placed in the "Hypothetical List" of the A. O. U. Check List. Prof. Ridgway states 

 that it is beyond question a good species. See Manual of N. A. Birds, p. 115. 



