WATER BIRDS. 121 



head and neck rather brownish-dusky, and the patch of wliite streaks on side of neck 

 light or wanting. Length 24 inches; extent 48; wing 13; tail 4.50; bill 1.33; tarsus 2.25; 

 middle toe and claw about the same. 



SWANS. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. A yellow spot near base of bill, in front of eye; tail-feathers 20. 



Whistling Swan. No. 64. 

 AA. No yellow spot on bill; tail-feathers 24. Trumpeter Swan. No. 65. 



64. Whistling Swan. Olor columbianus {Ord). (180) 



Synonyms: Swan, Common Swan, Wild Swan. — Anas columbianus, Ord, 1815. — 

 Cygnus americanus, Sharpl., 1830, Aud., Baird and others. — Olor cohunbianus, Stejn., 



1882. 



Recognized on sight from its resemblance to the domesticated swan of 

 our parks and gardens; to be confounded with no other bird except the 

 following species, from which, if adult, it may be known by the yellow spot 

 on each side of the base of the bill; the Trumpeter Swan has entirely black 

 bill and lores. 



Distribution. — The whole of North America, breeding far north. Com- 

 mander Islands, Kamchatka; accidental in Scotland. 



This beautiful bird is so conspicuous that it rarely escapes notice when 

 migrating or resting by day. Although it is so wary as to be seldom shot, 

 it is seen frequently during migration, both spring and fall, and is well known 

 to gunners and lake men throughout the state. Single birds or small squads 

 occasionally ahght during bad weather in ponds and streams in various 

 parts of the state, but it occurs most regularly on the Great Lakes, par- 

 ticularly on Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. 

 From the fact that it is such a difficult bird to shoot most specimens killed 

 are preserved, hence we find specimens in nearly every museum or collection 

 of any size in the state, and doubtless it has been taken in every county. 

 According to Swales (MS. list 1904) " It is a common migrant in southeastern 

 Michigan from March 2 to April 15, and October 26 to November. Large 

 flocks occasionally aUght on Lake St. Clair in fall, and commonly do so during 

 the spring. Generally these are wild and wary and keep out in the lake." 

 At Monroe, Michigan, Mr. B. J. Sauvage states that it is seen flying over 

 nearly every spring and sometimes in the fall. At Petersburg, Monroe 

 county, Mr. Trombley records 30 seen flying north April 2, 1894. JNIajor 

 Boies says it is "occasional in the spring and fall at Neebish Island, St. 

 Mary's River." Mr. F. H. Chapin, in a letter dated January 4, 1905, says 

 "A Whistling Swan in my collection weighed 15 pounds when alive. One 

 year ago last November one was shot at Long Lake, Portage township, 

 Kalamazoo county, which weighed 23 pounds. Possibly this was a 

 Trumpeter, but I never saw the ])ir(l. Swans are seen on this lake every 

 November but are rarely taken." 



Early in March, 1910, large flocks of swans gathered in Lake St. Clair, 

 and on the 12th several were killed by gunners who were ignorant or care- 

 less of the law. Four of these swans were subsequently confiscated by the 



