ANATID^— THE SWANS," GEESE, AND DUCKS. 115 



Chen hyperiorea nivalis BiDG-w. Proo. Biol. Soo. Wash, ii, 1884, 107! Man. N. Am. B. 

 1887. 115.-A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 169o. 

 Tadorna nivea Bbbhm, Vog. Deutsohl. 18S1, 854. 



Hab. Eastern North, America; breeding grounds unknown, but probably region be- 

 tween McKenzie Elver and Hudson'^ Bay; migrating south in winter through eastern 

 United States, including Mississippi Valley, to the Gull coast, even reaching Cuba; occa- 

 sional or accidental in the Bermudas. 



Stjbsp. Chab. Entirely similar to G. hyperborea except in size, being considerably 

 larger; young somewhat darker in color than in true C. hyperborea? 



Total length, about 30.00-38.00; wing, 17.35-17.50 (17.42); oulmen, 2.55-2.70(2.63); tarsus, 3.16- 

 3,50 (3.28); middle toe, 2.60-2.80 (2.70). 



-This is simply a largjer race of the Snow Goose, and occurs 

 with the smaller form throughout the Mississippi Valley during 

 its migrations. Mr. Nelson is of the opinion that in Illinois the 

 two occur in about equal numbers. Farther eastward, however, 

 particularly along the Atlantic coast, the larger form is decidedly 

 the prevailing one, while west of the Kocky Mountains it prob- 

 ably does not occur at all, though the smaller race is abundq,nt 

 there. 



According to Mr. Boardman, it is common during migration 

 in eastern Maine, and it is said to be more or less common, 

 according to the locality and other circumstances, at various 

 points along the coast farther south. 



Genus ANSER Brisson. 



Anser Bbiss. Orn. i, 1760, 261. Type, Anas anser LrNN.,=jl. cinereus Mbybb. 



Gbn. Chab. Bill much weaker or less swollen than in Chen (depth through base less 

 than half the length of the eulmen) ; plumage never white,* nor with white head, nor 

 bluish wing-coverts. 



This genus differs from Chen chiefly in the form of the bill, 

 which is much less robust, more depressed terminally, the nails 

 thinner and less arched, the tomia less divergent, etc. In fact, 

 the bill of some species is quite identical in form with that of 

 larger species of Bromta {comadenMs and hutchinsvl). The type 

 of the genus, however, A. {ciner&us Meyee), has the bill decid- 

 edly approximating to that of GJien, the commissure gaping 

 quite widely. Only one species occurs in America, the common 

 "White-fronted Goose {Anse9' gcmheli Habtlaub). The same 

 species occurs also in Europe in a representative form — the A. 

 alMfrons Gmel. The difference between them is chiefly one of 

 size, the American bird being decidedly the larger. Another 



♦Except sometimes in species which have been long domesticated. 



