96 NESTS AND EOGS OF 



Rio Granac; accidental in Eastern North America (Wisconsin; Lake Champlain; 

 Massachusetts). 



This tropical American species is purely accidental in Eastern North America 

 as above stated in its geographical range. Nothing is known regarding its nesting 

 or eggs. 



169. LESSER SNOW GOOSE. Chen hyperhorea (Pall.) Geog. Dist.— 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. Lesser and Greater. The Lesser 

 species breeds in Alaska, and occurs throughout 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 proljably in the Arctip regions east of the 

 Mackenzie river. In winter it is found in the United States from the Mississippi 

 Valley to the Atlantic coast.* These birds seek a nesting ground along the course 

 of the Lower Anderson river, and the neighboring region along the Arctic coast 

 (Nelson). : 



1690. GREATER SNOW GOOSE. Chen hypertorea nivalis (Forst.) Geog. 

 Dist. — North America, breeding far north (east of the Mackenzie basin) and mi- 

 grating south in winter, chiefly along the Atlantic coast, reaching Cuba. 



Mr. Frank M. Chapman in his "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America"* 

 says: "The Snow Goose does not appear to be a common bird on any part of the 

 Atlantic coast. It migrates both by night and day, and when on the wing its white 

 plumage and black-tipped primaries render it identifiable. It is a noisier bird than 

 the Canada Goose, and its voice is higher and more cackling."t Mr. Chapman states 

 that its nest and eggs are unknown. 



169. 1. BLUE GOOSE. Chen cmrulescens (Linn.) Geog. Dist.— Interior of North 

 America, breeding on eastern shores of Hudson Bay and migrating south, in winter, 

 through the Mississippi valley to Gulf coast; occasional on the Atlantic coast. 



Apparently it is nowhere common in North America, and it is even less common 

 on the Atlantic coast than in the interior. At one time it was supposed by many 

 ornithologists to be the young of the Snow Goose. The Blue Goose was first recorded 

 as an Ohio bird by the late Dr. J. M. Wheaton in 1875. Two specimens were 

 identified; one of these, which was captured alive four miles south of Columbusi was 

 kept in the City Park for a year, where It associated with the swans. Another was 

 wounded and captured on the Scioto river; it was placed in the park with the other 

 specimen, but died in a few days. I believe there is nothing authentic known con- 

 cerning its nest and eggs. 



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



t Handbook of Birds of Bastern N. America, with keys to the species and descriptions 

 of tlieir plumages, nests and eggs, tiieir distribution and migration and a brief account of 

 tlieir liaunts and habits, with introductory chapter on the study of ornithology, how to 

 Identify birds and how to collect and preserve birds, their nests and eggs. By Frank M. 

 Chapman, Assistant Curator of the Department of Mammalogy and Ornithology in the 

 American Museum of Natural History, New York City; member of the American Ornithol- 

 ogists' Union, etc. Second edition. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1895. 



