( 298 ) 



pnrt of breast and sides, blackish gray; hind part of back, and up- 

 per tail coverts, asli gray ; abdoinen grayish white — secondaries 

 margined with the srme; bill flesh color. 



With us, the occurrence of this bird is not freqn?nt. Occasional- 

 ly the young are seen exposed for sale in the New- York nnikets, 

 though rarely the adult. In some seasn!:s, small parties are «een 

 on the South Bjy, and now and then stragglers are seen fiying in 

 company with the Canada Geese. 1'he whiteness of their pkmmgc 

 renders them very conspicuous, and u-hen opportunity offers, are al- 

 ways singled out by the gunners. 



"The Snow Goose breeds in the barren grounds of Arctic Amer- 

 ica in great numbers. It feeds on rushes and insects, and in An- 

 luran on berries. When well fed, it is a very excellent bird — far 

 superior to the Canada Goose, both in juiciness ar.d flavor." 



"The Snov/ Geese n ake their appearance in Spring, a few daj^s 

 later than the Canada Geese, and pass in large flocks both through 

 the interior and on the sea coast. ' — Fauna coueali Americana, part 

 II. page 467. 



GENUS CYGN US— MEYER. 



SWAN. 



[Hill longer than tlic head, hiplicr than broad, at ;hn base dfprcrsci), niid a 

 liltlc wiilciird towaid lliG < rid ; roundci', tipper maiidib'r, \\i:h <bc (!t);sal line, 

 sloping; lower inai)dil>!c llaiicnod, with ibc anjjic very lo'ij;. arii! ralhrr narrow ; 

 nostrils I Irtcrd near ilic ridifo ; bead of inodrraic s'ze, obloi".' roinpicrscd ; reck 

 f,\trcmtlv leiii; and tlciidir; liodv very 'Tge, coriipacl, i.'ijjrcsscd ; Tucl shoit, 

 itoii' — |ilarrd a iitllc bchird '.lie ccntro of ll.c liody ; larai short ; xviiijj.s long; 

 Lruad ; tail \cry short, graduated ] 



CYGNUS AMERICANUS— SHARPLES3. 



AMERICAN SWAN. 



American Wild Sivan, ('vgnus Americanus, Sharj)less, Aincr. 



Jour, of Si ieuee and Ans. 

 American Swan, Gyijnus Americanus, Aud Orn. Bio^. 



Specific Character — Plumage pure white; bill and feet black. 

 Length of the specimen before us, 4 feet, wing 21^ inches. 



The American Swan passes the season of reproduction nt the 

 dreary regions of the far North. At the approach of winter, it re- 



