68 NORTH AMERICAN DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 
turn to tin* northwestward and breed for the most part on Victoria 
Land. 
Winter range, — During winter the greater snow goose has occurred 
in Cuba, Isle of Pines, Jamaica, and Porto Rico. Sometimes it has 
appeared in Cuba in quite large numbers. It is not usually common 
anywhere south of North Carolina. On this coast and a^ far as 
Chesapeake Bay it is not rare; a few arc found in winter even as far 
north as Massachusetts. There is no sharply defined line in the Mis- 
sissippi Valley between the winter ranges of the greater and the Lesser 
forms. In general the greater snow goose is the more common east 
of the Mississippi River, and winters from southern Illinois to the 
Gulf. 
Sj>r'ni(j migration. — Throughout North America, north of Virginia 
and east of the immediate vicinity of Hudson Bay. the greater snow 
goose is a rare visitant; most of the spring dates in this region fall 
between March 20 and April 10. In the Mississippi Valley migration 
begins in February, and the first migrants appear north of the winter 
range early in March; the average date of arrival in central Iowa is 
March 22, and in northern Iowa March 26; southern Minnesota is 
reached April 6, southern Manitoba April 2'2, and in L904 the first were 
noted in northern Hudson Iky June 4. The last leave the Gulf coast 
about the 1st of April; the average date for eleven years of the last 
seen at Aweme, Manitoba, is May 15, and the latest date Ma}' 20, 1908. 
Fall migration. — One of the earliest dates of arrival of this species 
in New England is October 2, 1896, at Lake Umbagog; there are a 
few other October dates for New England. About the middle of 
October the earliest migrants appear on Chesapeake 1 Bay. and the last 
of the month they arrive in Cuba and have been recorded in the 
Bermudas. In the fall the average date of arrival at Aweme, Mani- 
toba, is September 28, and the earliest September 1^4, L901; central 
Iowa is reached October 17, and the Gulf coast the last of the month. 
The average date of the last seen in the fall at Aweme, Manitoba, is 
October 20 (latest October 81, 1900). 
Chen cserulescens (Linn. ,. Blue Goose. 
Breeding range, -According to reports of Indians the blue goose 
nests in the interior of northern CTngava, but the nest and eggs are 
unknown to science, and there 18 no record of the presence of the birds 
anywhere in summer. During migration the 4 species has been noted 
as an occasional visitant as far west as tin 4 western shore of Hudson 
Bay in the vicinity of Fort CJiurchill and east to New Hampshire. 
Winter range. The lower portion of the Mississippi Valley, princi- 
pally west of the river, seems to be the winter home of this rather 
rare goose. It is not uncommon on the Gulf coast of Louisiana and 
Texas, and north to Nebraska and southern Illinois. It has occurred 
