ANSERINE — THE GEESE — CHEN. 
443 
years a tame Snow Goose, which mated with a common tame bird ; but the eggs 
were unproductive. 
According to Middendorff the Snow Goose occurs in Siberia, whence it extends its 
movements to the extreme north. Mr. Dresser also states that this bird is found 
quite regularly in the eastern portion of European Russia. It has also been met 
with in Japan; but is not known to have been seen either in Great Britain or in 
Scandinavia. It is believed to have been taken on several occasions in Germany. 
According to Naumann, considerable flocks have been known to pass through Silesia. 
Bechstein mentions the occurrence of a large flock on the 13th of January, 1792, pass- 
ing over the Thiiringerwald. A single specimen is reported to have been taken in 
France in 1829. It is also said to occur in Greece. 
Dr. Degland — as quoted by Mr. Dresser — states that Snow Geese are common 
in Cuba from October to April. In October, 1815, two of these birds came to a pond 
on which some tame Geese were swimming, and were shot. He adds that when the 
Cienaga de Zapata begins to dry up, portions are covered with Snow Geese, and that 
he had killed at least thirty of them in one season. Dr. Merrill mentions this species 
as quite common during winter on the western coast of Texas. 
Mr. MacFarlane describes these Geese as being very numerous at Fort Anderson 
about May 25, flying northward, but being afterward driven back by the severity 
of the weather. The nests of these birds were discovered on a small island in a lake 
near Liverpool Bay. They were in holes in the sandy soil, and were well lined 
with down. Mr. Dali found these birds common on the Yukon in the spring. Their 
Indian name is Hohkol, or Great White Bird. They arrive about May 9, flying from 
the south up the river, but only stop to feed in the marshes during the night. They 
do not breed in the vicinity of the Yukon, nor do they return in the fall by the same 
route by which they came. They have all gone by May 30. 
Examples of this species were also procured at Fort Resolution by Mr. Ivennicott, 
near Fort Simpson by Mr. B. R. Ross, and at Fort Rae by Mr. Clarke. 
In a paper of the late Mr. E. Adams on the Birds of Michalaski, Alaska (“ Ibis,” 
1878), the first arrival of the Snow Goose on Norton Sound is noted as having taken 
place on the 9th of May. During the two following days this bird was constantly 
passing over in large flocks of from one hundred to three hundred, an immense num- 
ber thus arriving. After that time only a few stragglers were seen. The flocks 
followed one another with great rapidity, and as soon as one large body disappeared, 
another was seen advancing. In this manner — as he was assured — they pass every 
year, and all return about the end of September ; at each season, with the exception 
of a few stragglers, being seen for only three days. None of the other kinds of 
Geese were seen in such numbers as this was, nor was any other species so regular in its 
flight. This bird generally passes over at a considerable height, and seldom alights 
except at night ; but the stragglers flew exceptionally low, and were easily shot. 
Every bird seemed to be in full plumage and in good condition, but none remained 
to breed. 
The smaller form probably does not differ as to its general habits and other 
characteristics from the larger. But little is known as to its distribution and 
history. According to Dr. Cooper it appears to be rather common in California in 
the winter. In company with the Snow Goose it frequents the plains, and is said to 
have very similar habits ; at least nothing distinctive has been observed. This bird 
is much less abundant than the Snow Goose ; but a considerable number are brought 
to market every winter, and they are known in the markets of San Francisco as the 
“ White Brant,” on account of their smaller size. 
