BLUE GOOSE. 519 
found in Illinois, in equal numbers with the larger variety (Nelson), but 
I am not aware thatit has been properly identified. 
ANSER C@RULESCENS (L.) Vieill. 
Blue Groose. 
Anser cerulescens, WHEATON, Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 574, Reprint, 
1875, 14.—LANGDON, Cat. of Birds of Cin., 1877, 16; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. 
Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 185; Reprint, 19. 
Anas cerulescens, LINNAUS, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 198. 
Anser corulescens, VIBILLOT, Ency. Meth., i, 1823, 115. 
With nearly the size, and exactly the form of the last species, but the plumage ashy, 
varied with dark-brown, the head, upper neck, tail-coverts and most of the under-parts 
white, the wing-coverts silvery ash. 
Habitat, North America generally. 
Rare. The Blue Goose was first introduced as an Ohio bird by myself, 
in 1875, two specimens having been identified at Columbus. Until lately 
it has been considered by many ornithologists as the young of the Snow 
Goose. The specimens above referred to have a peculiar history which is 
as follows: In the fall of 1875, a strange bird associated with a flock of 
tame geese about four miles south of this city, followed them into a barn 
at night, and was secured. Under the impression that it was a “ Brant” 
(a common name for all wild geese, except the Canada Goose) it was 
brought alive to the City Park of this city. It was kept for a year, 
associating with swans and becoming quite domesticated. It would fre- 
quently fly away considerable distances, but was readily retaken. On 
the 27th of October, a goose was wounded in the river a few hundred 
from the City Park and secured. Under the impression that it was the 
escaped bird, it was returned to the park, but much to the surprise of all 
concerned, it was found that there were now two geese almost precisely 
alike. The superintendent of the park, Mr. J. L. Stelzig, made the new 
comer as comfortable as possible, but the next day but one goose remained 
and this the wounded bird captured the previous day. The other had 
probably flown to the south, its instinct perhaps quickened by the 
acquaintance which it had so recently renewed with its own species. In 
a tew days the wounded specimen died, and came into my possession by 
the kindness of Mr. Stelzig. The following is its description: Head 
and upper neck white, with an interrupted line of dark gray-brown on 
the nape and occiput (this line wanting on the other and probably older 
individual). Lower neck, upper breast, and back grayish-brown, becom- 
ing lighter on belly and under tail coverts. Lesser wing coverts, primary 
coverts, lower back, rump, and tail pearl-gray of varying shade, with 
lighter or whitish tips or edging to the feathers ; quills, inner secondaries 
