TRUMPETER SWAN. "5 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nesls. placed on tlie ground in marshy place'^. coiiii)osed of grass, weeds, etc. Et/^s, six to ten in number, oval in 

 form, and dirty white in color. Dimensions from 2-5() x 4-00 to •2-75x4-50. 



HABITS. 



8omo years ago, in April, I was walking along a street in Baltimore, Maryland, when 

 glancing npwanl, I saw a wedge-shaped flock of large, white birds, high in air, pa.s.sing 

 northward, and at once recognized thein as being Swans, the first that I had ever seen un- 

 domesticated, and they were probably on their way to their breeding grounds in the far 

 North. Later, however, when on the yacht, Nina, I found Swans common in November, 

 in Chesapeake Bay. The notes of the Swans are harsh and loud but are easily recognized. 



CYGNUS BUCCINATOR. 

 Trumpeter Swan. 

 Cygnus buccinator Ricn. F. Bor. Am., II; 1831, 404. 

 DESCEIPTION. 

 Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, very large. Bill, longer than head, broad, but not very high at ha.se, with nostrils 

 situated in basal portion. Color. AduU. Pure white throughout. Iris, brown. Bill and feet, black. Yotmy. Sim- 

 ilar, but tinged with pale bluisli-ash and reddish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Readily known by the very large size, comparatively low base of black bill, and basal situation of nostrils. Distribu- 

 ted, as a summer resident, throughout Arctic America. Winters from New Jei-sey to the Carolinas. Rare in New En- 

 gland during the migrations. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average niea.surements of specimens from North America. Length , .55-25; stretch , 85-00; wing, 22-50; toil , 7-T5; bill, 

 4-25; tarsus, 4-45. L)ngest specimen, 58-50; greatest extent of wing, 90-00; longest wing, 23-00; tail, 8-00; liill,5-(iO; tarsus, 

 4-60. Shortest specimen, .52-00; smallest extent of wing, 80-00; shortest wing, 21-00; tail, 7-50; bill, 4-50; tai-sus, 4-25. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nes/s, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of gi-a,ss, weeds, etc. Et/ffs. from six to ten in number, oval 

 in form, and dirty-white in color. Dimensions from 2-50x4-03 to 2-76x450. 



HABITS. 



The habits of this and the preceding species are so well known, that I shall not at- 

 tempt to enlarge u})on them, as I can add nothing new to that which has already been writ- 

 ten. I presume that I sttw this species on Chesapeake Bay but as all the Swtins are very 

 shy, I did not get near enough to identify them. Both species are exceedingly rare in 

 New England, passing to their northern breeding grounds, through the interior of the 

 country, thus avoiding the coast north of New Jersey. 



GENUS II. ANSER. LONG-BILLED GRESE. 



Gen. Cu. Bill, about as long as head, generally bright in color. Hind toe, rather long. Marginal indentations, open 

 and wide. 



Members of this genus are variable in color, but are conspicuously marked with white. The trachea i.s straight and 

 wiihout dilatation. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 



ANSER HYPERBOBEUS. 



Snow Goose. 



Anser hyperboreus \'\u.., Spic. Zool., VI; 17f>7, 80. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Pure white; primaries bluish-gray at base and black at tip. 

 Iris, brown. Bill and legs, red. Young. Similar, but tinged with yellowish and rufous. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the white color, and black tippings to the primaries. Distributed, in summer, throughout Arctic 

 America. ^Vintcrs in the West. Rare in New England durinjr the migrations. 



