92 
Number 
Length 
Culmen 
Weight 
Sex 
Ins. 
Ins. 
Lbs. 
21103 
28-5 
2-30 
51 
9 
21104 
28-5 
2-20 
51 
c? 1 
21105 
27-7 
2-30 
5 
<? 
21106 
29-5 
2 30 
6 
cT 
21107 
28-3 
2 25 
5 
9 
Kumlien (1879, p. 46) remarks: “Appears to be rare and migratory 
in the Cumberland waters. Saw a few specimens in early spring and late 
autumn.” Hantzsch (1914, pp. 149-151) in his diary refers to the species 
as Chen hyperborea and on labels of specimens as Chen hyperborea nivalis. 
He first observed the species on June 6, 1910, near the end of Nettilling 
fiord. On June 18, he saw one flying over Amittok lake; others were noted 
on June 24, at Isoa, Nettilling; and a large flock was seen on June 26, feeding 
on grass land in eastern Nettilling. He recorded during July large numbers 
of snow geese in the moult in Tikerakdjuak point, Nettilling lake. Flocks 
of upwards of one hundred birds were seen. On July 20, Hantzsch’s 
Eskimo killed fifty-four birds in the moult. Hantzsch writes: “As the 
result of examination of the prepared birds, it was determined the birds 
were not of breeding age.” In early June Hantzsch sent his Eskimo 
south of Nettilling lake in search of the breeding ground of the snow geese, 
having heard from an old woman at Kekerten that they nested in that 
region. The men travelled south to Amadjuak lake and returned along 
Amadjuak river, but saw no geese. Hantzsch noted that by August 10 
most of the geese at Nettilling lake were flying. He observed flocks of 
hundreds of snow geese at Koukjuak river from early in September to 
the middle of the month, when they disappeared from the tundra. Hesse 
(1915, pp. 156-166), as a result of a close study of the specimens collected 
by Hantzsch and after describing them at length, states that the measure- 
ments of the bills and legs indicate that the birds are intermediate between 
hyperboreus and nivalis. Owing to the fact that the specimens were of 
birds in the moulting stage, Hesse was unable to make comparisons based 
on wing length, but supposed if this method had been possible it would 
also have indicated an intermediate character for the Baffin Island birds. 
37. Chen hyperboreus nivalis (J. It. Forster), greater snow goose. 
Eskimo: Kungo. 
It is assumed that the snow goose which nests in northern Baffin 
island belongs to this subspecies, but so far as known no specimens have 
been brought from this region. 
Munn (See Lloyd, 1922, p. 50) records snow geese, believed to be this 
subspecies because of the locality, as abundant and breeding on Bylot 
island and in the vicinity of Ponds inlet. Corporal F. Mclnnes states 
that snow geese, which are supposed to be this race, breed in large numbers 
on the southwest corner of Bylot island, and on the south coast of Eclipse 
sound from the mouth of Salmon river south to Salmon lakes. The Eskimo 
reported them also from Arctic bay, and Button point on Bylot island. 
The geese arrive about the first of June. Eggs have been found on Bylot 
island as early as June 14, 1 
1 A neat with five eggs was taken near the R.C.M.P. detachment at Dundas, Devon island, June 22, 1928, and 
one of the eggs, with parent birds, presented to the National MuBeum of Canada, are undoubtedly referable tm 
nivalis. — R.M.A. 
