CHEN CJEIJLESCENS. 
THE BLUE WAVEY. 
ANSER OiERlTLESOENS. Lixx. Syst. Nat. Yol. I. (1766.) p. 198. — Cassis. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scieu. (1856.) p. 42. Bree, B. of Europe. 
Vol. IV. p. 188. pi. 
ANSER HYPERBOREUS. Wils. Vol. VIII. Am. Oru. pi. 69. fig. 5. 
This species, generally confounded with tlie Snow Goose, [Chen Hyperboreas), aud considered as its young, is very distinct, as a 
fiance at the plate here given, will at once testify. Immature specimens have been figured by both Wilson and Audubon, as the young 
of the common species, but apparently the information they possessed regarding theso birds was hardly sufficient to warrant their 
conclusions. 
This Goose is of rare occurrence on our Atlantic coast during winter, and the specimens obtained are generally immature, without 
the white under parts of the adult; but in the northern portions of our continent it is very abundaut, and goes in flockd containing 
great numbers of individuals. 
The following interesting account of the Blue Wavey is taken from an article ou the “ Swans and Geese of Hudson’s Bay, by 
George Barnstox,” published in the “Ibis,” (1860.) p. 253. “The friendly intercourse that exists between these Geese ( A . Hyperboreus) 
and the Blue Wavies (A. Ccerulescens). has perhaps induced some to suppose that they were merely varieties ; but this is a mistake, 
The young white Wavies arrive from the North with their parents, without mixture of other geese in the flocks; and they have the 
same white garb as the old birds, but with the head as if it had been soiled with rust of iron, and the bill, as is well known with 
young birds, tender, soft, and compressible ; while, on the other hand, the Anser Gaerulescens comes down upon the Eastern coast, also in 
perfectly distinct flocks, the young birds having a more diffused and darker blue color, as well as being of smaller size, with the beak 
softer aud the flesh more tender. About this there can be no mistake. In the spring, James' Bay is frequently crossed by both species 
of the Wavey, at Capes Jones and Henrietta Maria; aud, occasionally, two or three Blue may be seen in a large flock of White on the 
Albany shore, while two or three White may also be observed accompanying the full flocks of Blue on the Eastmaiu side; but this 
is not singular, as their cry is almost the same, and they are certainly closely allied species — but not varieties. By Indian report, 
a great breeding-ground for the Blue Wavey is the country lying in the interior from the N. E. point of Labrador, Cape Dudley Digges. 
Extensive swamps and impassable bogs prevail there ; and the Geese incubate on the more solid and driest tufts dispersed over the 
morass, safe from the approach of man, or other than a winged enemy. Of all the Geese enumerated, the Anser Cwrulescens appears 
to be least known, and, it is possible, frequents in summer only James’ Bay and tbe Eastmain of Labrador, at the extremity of which 
peninsula it batches. Of its winter haunts I cannot speak with certainty, not having seen them either on the Columbia or on the 
Northwest coast. It may he that they adopt the seacoast in a lower latitude as a home, and are to be found towards Southern 
Mexico.” 
My plate contains representations of this species of adult and young, aud is the only one, I believe, which has figures of this 
bird, of tbe natural size. Tbe specimens are in the British Museum, to whose officers I am under many obligations for opportunities 
of introducing in this work tbe rare birds contained in the National collection. 
