AVES. 385 



flight. When bewildered in foggy weather they appear sometimes to be in 

 great distress, flying about in an irregular manner and for a considerable 

 length of time over the same quarter, making a great clamor. On these 

 occasions, should they approach the earth and alight, which they some- 

 times do to rest and recollect themselves, the only hospitality they meet 

 with is death and destruction from a whole neighborhood already in arms 

 for their reception. Wounded geese have in numerous instances been 

 completely domesticated, and readily pair with the tame grey goose. The 

 offspring is said to be larger than either, but the characteristic marks of the 

 wild goose still predominate." 



Another large American species is the snow goose, A. hyperboreus, 

 which is entirely white. It is not so frequently seen as the Canada goose, 

 but occasionally is shot on the Atlantic coast and in the rivers. The other 

 American geese are the brant {A. hernicla) and some others which ai'e also 

 European species. Other geese are inhabitants of Asia and Africa. 



Sub-fam. 3. Cygnince, or Swans. Bill about the length of the head, 

 covered at base with a soft cere ; wings moderate ; tail short ; tarsi mode- 

 rate ; feet large ; neck very long. Size large, color mostly white. 



There are about ten species of swans inhabiting various countries of the 

 globe, but principally distributed in the northern latitudes. They live on 

 the lakes and rivers generally in small parties, subsisting on various aquatic 

 plants. There are several European species, one of which, the mute or 

 tame swan, Cygnus olor {pi. 91, fig. 7), is well known as being almost 

 domesticated. " This species," observes Sir William Jardine, " is chiefly 

 known as an ornament on our rivers and artificial waters, and at a very 

 early period of our history so much importance was attached to having 

 these birds that laws were enacted, and it required a certain qualification 

 and sometimes royal consent for persons to keep them on their domain." 

 At the enumeration of these birds in 1843 the number owned by Queen 

 Victoria in the various lakes and waters of the grounds attached to her 

 palaces was 232, a fact which shows the high estimation in which it is yet 

 held as an ornamental bird. The other European species are the hooper 

 swan, C. ferus {pi. 91, fig. 8), Bewick's swan {C. bewickii), and the 

 Polish swan {C. immutabilis) . 



There are two American species, the trumpeter swan {C. buccinator) 

 and the western swan {C. americanus). The former is frequently met 

 with in the waters throughout the whole country, the latter is more western 

 and southern in its range. They much resemble in history the European 

 swans. In California and Oregon a large species is found which has a 

 black neck and back (C nigricollis). An entirely black swan inhabits 

 Australia, C. atrata. 



Sub-fam. 4. Anatinoi, or Fresh Water Ducks. Bill rather long, broad, 

 depressed, lateral margins lamellated ; tarsi short, compressed;, feet large. 

 Size smaller than the preceding, colors various. 



This sub-family contains about seventy-five species of diicks, all of 

 which habitually live in fresh waters though occasionally seen on the sea- 

 shores, and reside in all countries. 



589 



