CYGNUS AMEEICANUS, AMERICAN SWAN. 545 



est species iu the interior of tbe fur countries, states tbat it nests " prin- 

 cipally within the xerotic Circle." In the fall, the birds proceed along 

 the whole course of the Mississippi; Audubon states that they make 

 their appearance on tbe lower waters of the Ohio about the end of Octo- 

 ber, and tbat they are frequently exposed for sale in the New Orleans 

 market, being procured on the ponds of the interior, and on the great 

 lakes leading to the Gulf of Mexico. The record of the bird east of 

 the Mississippi is not so satisfactory. Mr. Wheaton mentions its occa- 

 sional presence on Lake Erie ; in Mr. Turnbull's List the species " is 

 included on the authority of reliable sportsmen who have shot it on 

 the Chesapeake, as also on Delaware Bay." The so-called G. passmorei 

 furnishes a Canadian instance. 



On the West Coast, according to Dr. Newberry, " the Trumpeter 

 Swan visits California with its congeners, the Ducks and Geese, in their 

 annual migrations, but, compared with the myriads of other water birds 

 which congregate at that season in the bays and rivers of the West, it is 

 always rare. Before we left the Columbia, early in November, the 

 Swans had begun to arrive from the north, and frequently, while at Fort 

 Vancouver, their trumpeting drew our attention to the long converging 

 lines of these magnificent birds, so large and so snowy white, as they 

 came from their northern nesting places, and, screaming their delight at 

 the appearance of the broad expanse of water, perhaps their winter 

 home, descended into the Columbia." 



CYGNUS AMEEICANUS, Sharp. 



American or Whistling Swan. 



Cygnus musicus, Bp., Syn. 1828, 379, nee auct. — Linsl., Am. Jouru. xliv, 1843, 268. 



Ci/'jnus bewiclcii, Sw. & Rich., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 465, uec auct.—'NvT'T., Man. ii, 1834, 372. 



Ciffjnits ferns, Niitt., Man. ii, 1834, 366, nee auct. 



Ci/gnus americanuis, Sharp., Doughty's Cab. N. H. i, 1830, 185, pi. 16; Aiu. Journ. Sci. 

 xxii, 1831, 83. — Macgil., Man. Orn. ii, 157 (Scotland). — Aui)., Orn. Biog. v, 1^39, 

 133, pi. 411; Syn. 1839, 274; B. Am. vi, 1843, 226. pi. 384.— Gik., B. L. 1. 1844, 

 298.— Nkwb., p. R. R. Rep. vi, 1857, 100.— Coop. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 

 1860, 248.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 758.— Wheat., Ohio A<,n-ic. Rep. 1860. No. 223.— 

 COUES & Phknt.. Smiths. Rep. 1861, 417 (Washington, D. C.).— Coues, Pr. 

 Phila. Acad. 1866, 98 (Colorado River).— Coues, Pr. Ess. lust, v, 1868, 297 (New 

 England, rare or irregnlar). — Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 1868, 124 (Sonth Caro- 

 lina, in winter).— McIiAVi!., Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1866, 94 (Canada West, migra- 

 tory).— Lawh., Ann. Lye. N. V. viii, 1866, 295.— Tuhnh., B. E. Pa. 1869, 34 

 (frequent on Chesapeake Bay, during the migrations and in winter). — Dali- &. 

 Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 293 (coumiou, and breeding all along the Yu- 

 kon). — Mayx., Guide, 1870, 146 (Massachusetts, verv rare, in winter). — Coues. 

 Key, 1872, 281, tig. 182.— Sxow, B. Kans. 1873, 11 (rare).— Rinc.w., Ann. Lyci 

 N. Y. X, 1S74, 388 (Illinois), 



Olor americanm, Bp., Comptes Rendus, xliii, 1856, p. — . 



Hab. — Continent of North America; breeding only in the far North; wintering in 

 the United States. Accidental in Scotland (Macgil., Hist. Br. B. 682; Man. Br. B. 157; 

 Haijt., Br. B. 154). 



Not noticed by either of the Expeditions. 



Excepting Sir John Ki(;hardson's short note of the breeding of this 

 species within the Arctic Circle, nothing appears to have been definitely 

 ascertained in the matter until Mr. Dall made his observations in Alaska. 

 The Swan, he observes, is " common all along the Yukon. Arrives with 

 the Geese about May 1, but in a contrary direction, coining down instead 

 of up the Yukon. Breeds iu the great mar.shes near the Yukon mouth. 

 The eggs, two iu number, vary from pure white to fulvous, as do the 

 parents on the head and neck, ai)parently without regard to age. The 

 eggs are usually iu a tussock quite surrounded with water, so that the 

 35 



