58 BIRDS OF COLORADO. 



eastern border of Colorado it rarely nests, tliougli still common 

 in migration. It is rather late to arrive in the spring and the 

 eggs are laid by the middle of June. 



169. Chen hyperborea. Lesser Snow Goose. 



Migrant and winter resident ; not common. A few are 

 seen during migration spring and fall along the plains east of 

 the mountains. There is no record of their wintering on the 

 plains though probably they are at least an occasional winter 

 visitant to the open waters of southeastern Colorado. Twenty 

 years ago Henshaw heard of them as wintering abundantly in 

 the San Luis Valley. But they are much less common every- 

 where in the Rocky Mountain region now than they were then. 

 West and southwest of Colorado they still remain fairly abund- 

 ant. Breeds far north. 



169a. Chen hyperborea nivalis. Greater Snow Goose. 



Migratory; rare. The eastern form, not coming regularly 

 as far west as Colorado, being confined mostly to the Atlantic 

 coast. A specimen shot by Pres. Z. X. Snyder east of Greeley, 

 March 20, 1895, is a little longer than the greatest length given 

 for the Greater Snow Goose. This is the only certain Colorado 

 record. 



171a. Anser albifrons gambeli. American White-fronted 

 Goose. 



Migratory; rare. Probably the rarest Goose that regularly 

 occurs in Colorado. A few have been taken in migration in 

 eastern Colorado. 



172. Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. 



Summer resident, rare except locally; winter resident, not 

 common; in migration, common. The most common Goose of 

 the State. It might almost be called resident since there is no 

 time in the year when there are not some in the State, 

 but it is probable that the same individuals do not remain here 

 throughout the year, those that breed in Colorado going farther 

 south for the winter and their places being taken by those that 

 nested further north. On the plains of eastern Colorado they 

 are known only as migrants and winter residents. In the 

 mountains they breed along the higher secluded lakes at about 

 10,000 feet, especially in North Park, where Dr. Coues found 

 them breeding in large numbers. (B. N. O. C. II. 1887, 51.) 

 A few remain in southern Colorado through the winter and they 

 are likely to appear irregularly anywhere east of the range ex- 

 cept in the severest weather. 



