•124 LAMELLTROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



Cygnus ferus. Leach, Syst. Cat. 1816, 37. — Steph. Gen. Zool. XII. 10, pi. 37. — Gray, Gen, 

 B. III. 610 ; Cat. Brit. B. 1863, 188. — Keinii. Ibis, 1861, 13 (Greenland). 



Cygnus musicus, Bechst. Naturg. Deutschl. I\'. 1809, 830. — Bonap. Comp. List, 1838, 55. —Keys. 

 & Blas. Wirl). Eur. 82.— M.\cgill. Man. IL 158. — Coues, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 690. 



Olor musicus, "\Vagi-. Isis, 1832, 1234. 



Cygnus olor. Pall. Zoogr. Rosso- As. II. 1826, 211. 



Cygnus xanthorhiniis, Nal'M. A^og. Deutschl. XL 1842, 478, pi. 296. 



Whistling or Wild Sioan, AucT. 



The Hooper, Ell; or Whistling Swan, Yark. I5rit. B. ed. 2, III. 187, fig. ; ed. 3, III. 191, fig. 



Hab. PaltBarctic Region. Accidental in Greenland (Reinh. " Ibis," 1861, 13). 



Sp. Char. " The distance from the anterior angle of the eye to the hind border of the nostrils 

 is nuich longer than the distance from the latter to the tip of the 1^11 ; the yellow color at the 

 base of the bill extending beyond the nostrils, making two thirds of the surface of the bill and 

 lore" (Stejn. tom.cit). 



Adult : Pure white, the head sometimes tinged with rusty ; lores and basal portion of bill to 

 beyond the nostril yellow, the terminal portion black ; iris brown ; legs and feet black. Yormg : 

 Grayish brown, the bill fiesh-color basally, dusky terminally ; legs and feet grayish. Total length 

 about 5 feet ; extent about 7.00-8.00 feet ; wing, 23.00-26.00 inches, culmen (to frontal feathers) 

 4.00-4.75 ; tarsus, 4.00 ; middle toe, 5.00-6.00. 



The Wild SAvan of the Old World has no other claim to be classed as a North 

 American bird than its supposed presence in Greenland. Dr. Reinhardt states that, 

 according to the accounts received from the Eskimos, it formerly bred on several 

 places near Godthaab, but was long ago totally exterminated by persecutions at the 

 time of its moulting. During the fifteen years preceding the year 1861, according to 

 that author, this bird had again made its appearance in Greenland ; and Holbull states 

 that several individuals Avere observed at Julianehaab in 1846. Dr. Eeinhardt saw tAvo 

 specimens Avhich had been sent from South Greenland in 1852 ; and in June, 1859, a 

 fine one Avas shot at Atanink, nearly ten miles north of Godthaab. If undisturbed 

 this may again acquire a claim to be mentioned as one of the birds of Greenland. 



Called in Europe the " Hooper," ''Elk/' or " W^histling SAvan," this species is found 

 throughout Europe, breeding in the more secluded parts of the north, and appearing 

 in the Avinter in the more southern regions. Its very peculiar note, said to resemble 

 the Avord hoop, gives it the name by Avhicli it is most generally knoAvn. 



This bird is a Avinter visitant of the more southern portions of the British Islands, 

 Avhere it arrives in flocks about the middle of December, and in greater numbers 

 as the Aveather becomes more severe. It is found throughout the year in the Orkneys, 

 Avhere a fcAV pairs breed, and Avdiere large flocks appear from the north in October, 

 a portion of these remaining all Avinter. In December these birds are seen flying in 

 compact bodies along the coast-lines, at AAdiicli time the London markets are sometimes 

 supplied with them to profusion. 



They also visit Holland, France, Spain, and Italy, and a fcAv go as far south as 

 Barbary, or even Egypt ; in severe Avinters they are found in Corfu and Sicily. 



Linnreus, in his account of his travels in Lapland, mentions meeting Avitli this SAvan 

 on several occasions ; he saAv three at the residence of the Governor of the province 

 Avhich Avere as tame as Domestic Geese. This bird is said to appear in Lapland Avith 

 the first breaking-up of the ice, and to be the earliest of the Anatldm in its northern 

 migrations. It frequents the most secluded SAvamps and lakes in the Avooded districts, 

 and in the northeastern portions of the country is reported to be very numerous. 



According to Bechstein this species is more frequently domesticated than the Mute 

 SAvan, and there are several instances on record of its having produced young Avheu 

 in confinement in England. 



