180 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



this statement refers only to the recent forms, because we, in reality, 

 Lave a fossil species, whicli seems to be an intermediate link between the 

 swans and geese. This form is the Cygmisfak'oneri Pakkek,* a gigantic 

 swan from the Zebbug-Cave, Malta, nearly one-third larger than average 

 individuals of the Mute Swan. It stood on longer legs, and had the 

 comparatively short toes of a goose. In fact, the tarsi were consider- 

 ably longer in proportion than those of the recent swans, the toes being 

 very short, so that, whilst the proximal joint of the middle toe is one- 

 fourth thicker than that of the Mute Swan, it is only three fourths the 

 length. As this species evidently is generically quite distinct from any 

 of the recent genera, I propose for it the name 



Paljeocycnus * Stejueger gen. nov. 



Type Palojocycrms falconeri. 



Fossil Swans have not been found longer back than the diluvium, 

 Mr. K. i.WEN indicating the existence of a Swan from the diluvious 

 strata of Essex, alongside of the bones of Ulejjhas primigenius and 

 Rhinoceros tichorhinus. In the caves of France and of Malta, in the so- 



1. Coscoroha Candida (Vieill.) 



1162.— Anas coscoroha Molin., Stor. Nat. Chili (p. 207). 

 1818. — Anser candidus Vieill., Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxiii, p. 331. 

 Ib'Sl.—Ci/gniis anatoidcs KiXG, Pr. Zool. Soc. Loncl. 1830-31, p. 15. 

 1837. — Cygnus hyperhoreus d'Orbigny, Mag. Zool. p. — . 

 1854. — Cygnus chionis Light., Noiiiencl. p. 101. 



Hah.— South. America, from Chili and Buenos Ayres sonthwaid to the Falkland 

 Islands. 



List of specimens and dimensions. 



2. Coscoroha davidi Swinhoe. 



1870.— Cygnus {Coscoroha) davidi Swinh., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1370, p. 430. 

 Hab. — China. Only one specimen known. 

 Both species are white with red bill. 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud. 1865, p. 752. 

 * TcaXcab'i = antiqmis, hvhvo? ;= cygnus. 



