TRUMPETER SWAN. 371 



breed, as far south as the 61st parallel, but principally within 

 the Arctic circle. In its migrations it is generally seen to 

 precede the Geese by a few days, It is to the Trumpeter 

 that the bulk of the Swan-skins imported by the Hudson's 

 Bay Company belong. Lawson remarks that they arrive in 

 great flocks in Carolina in autumn, and frequent the rivers 

 and fresh waters, retiring thence to breed in the north as 

 early as February. This species, remarkable for its loud 

 clarion, descends the valley of the Mississippi in great flights 

 at the approach of winter. Hearne, who also observed this 

 Trumpeter, remarks " I have heard them, in serene even- 

 ings, after sunset, make a noise not very unlike that of a 

 French Horn, but entirely divested of every note that con- 

 stituted melody, and have often been sorry that it did not 

 forebode their death." The trachea is well supplied with 

 the means of producing this hollow clang, a fold of it 

 entering a protuberance on the dorsal or interior aspect of 

 the sternum at its upper part, which is wanting both in the 

 Cygnus ferus (the preceding species) and the C BeioicJcii : 

 in other respects the windpipe is distributed through the 

 sternum nearly as in the latter of these species. 



The length of the Trumpeter Swan is about 70 inches ; the wing 

 26 ; the bill above, 4 inches 11 lines ; the tarsus 4^ inches ; the 

 middle toe and its nail 6 inches 9 lines. — The color white, the fore- 

 head alone tinged with reddish-orange. Bill, cere, and legs entirely 

 black. The bill nearly resembling that of C. ferns in form, though 

 longer and rather more depressed. Wings : third quill longest. 

 Some specimens, it appears, have the crown and cheeks bright 

 chestnut. 



