91 
was seen during the summer about cape Dorset, Fox islands, 01 west to 
Bowdoin harbour. The natives asserted that this species bred on islands 
far to the westward along Foxe Channel coast. 
J. C, Ross (1826, p. 106) recorded this species from port Bowen, 
where it arrived in large numbers in early June, 1825. It was found only 
sparingly by Kumlien (1879, p. 931) in Cumberland sound in 1877-78. He 
did not observe the birds breeding, but was told by Eskimo that they once 
were found nesting in great numbers some distance up Greater Kingwah 
fiord (Kaggilartung?). The species was first observed by Hantzsch (1914, 
pp. 151-154) in Cumberland sound on April 18, 1910, and was frequently 
seen by him during May and June on his way to Nettilling lake. He found 
the birds breeding sparingly in July on small islands at Tikerakdjuak 
point, Nettilling lake. Young were first seen on July 31. A few were 
noted on the west side of Nettilling lake in August, and a number were 
noted flying along Koukjuak river on September 16. Low (1906, p. 317) 
records the species as common in the northern part of Hudson bay, and 
very numerous on the east side of Roes Welcome. Skins and eggs from 
Southampton, said by Munn to be common and breeding in Eclipse sound, 
but not in Ponds Inlet vicinity (Lloyd, H., 1922, p. 50). Skins and eggs 
of the King eider were collected by the MacMillan expedition to southwest 
Baffin island, 1921-22. 
36. Chen hyperboreus hyperboreus (Pallas), snow goose. 
Eskimo : Kungo; Kangu , -wfe, -ut, according to Hantzsch. 
The first geese were observed on June 8, 1925, at Takuirbing river, 
Nettilling lake, where a flock of thirty-six flew over our camp; of these 
thirty-two were blue geese and four were thought to be snow geese. No 
geese were seen after this date until August 27, when at the mouth of 
Amadjuak river, a flock of five snow geese was observed on the tundra, 
snow geese were next observed on August 30 at Koukjuak river, when a 
flock of ten was seen. During the next four days, while camped beside 
the river, numerous flocks were seen flying over, or feeding on, the tundra; 
in all, several hundred geese were seen. Specimens could not be secured, 
for the geese were shy and the tundra afforded no cover. It is the writer’s 
opinion that this region is one of the best breeding grounds of snow geese in 
the eastern Arctic. The Eskimo stated that their predecessors many 
years ago annually killed large numbers of the geese when they were moult- 
ing in July. The Eskimo in their kayaks rounded up the birds on the water, 
drove them ashore, and forced them into stone-walled pens where they 
were easily dispatched. One of these pens was seen on an island in 
Koukjuak river; it was very old and bones of geese were plentiful in the 
debris on the peaty floor. 
At cape Dorset between June 5 and 8, 1926, large numbers of geese 
assumed to be snow geese were seen flying northward, mostly at altitudes 
of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. A few flocks were seen flying only 200 to 400 
feet above the hills. No birds were collected. 
Five moulting lesser snow geese were collected on July 20, 1926, 
at Aitken lakes, northwest of cape Dorset. They were unaccompanied 
by young and probably were first-year, non-breeding birds. With them 
were two blue geese, which were also collected. Particulars of the five 
snow geese are as follows: 
