aM B m a i
O H E I OÆEULESCEI s rS.
T E I B LU E WATET.
ANSER C4DRULES0ENS. Linn. Syst. Nat. Vol. I . (1766.) p. 198.— Cassin. Proe. Acad. Nat. Seien. (1856;) p. 42. Bree, B. of Europe.
Vol. IV. p. 133. pi.
ANSER HYPERBOREUS. W ils. Vol. VIII. Am. Orn. pi. 69. fig. 5.
This species, generally confounded with the Snow Goose, (Chen Hyperhoreus), and considered as its young, is very distinct, as a
glance at the plate here given, will at once testify. Immature specimens have been figured by both W ilso n and Audubon, as the young
of the common species, but apparently the information they possessed regarding these 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 abundant, and goes in flocks containing
great numbers of individuals.
The following interesting account of the Blue Wavey is taken from an article on the “ Swans and Geese of Hudson’s Bay, by
George B a rn sto n ,” published in the “ Ibis,” (1860.) p. 253. “The friendly intercourse that exists between these Geese ( 4 . Hyperboreus)
and the Blue Wavies (4 . 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 billj as is well known with
young birds, tender, soft, and compressible ; While, on the ojbher hand, the Anser Ccerulescens comes down upon the Eastern coast, also in
perfec tly distinct flocks, the young- birds having a more diffused and darker blue color, as well as being of smaller size, with the beak
softer and 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 ; and, 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 Eastmain 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 Ccerulescens appears
to be least known, and, it is possible, frequents in summer only James’ Bay and the Eastmain of Labrador, at the extremity of which
peninsula it hatches. Of its winter haunts I cannot speak with certainty, not having seen them either on the Columbia or on the
Northwest coast. It may be 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, and is the only one, I believe, which has figures of this
bird, of the natural size. The specimens are in the British Museum, to whose officers I am under many obligations for opportunities
of introducing in this work the rare birds contained in the National collection.