AMERICAN SWAN. 35 



older, the body becomes white, then the neck, and last 

 of all the head. 



During the autumn, winter and spring this swan 

 occurs in greater or less abundance all over the United 

 States, occasionally being found as far south as Flor- 

 ida. It is rarely seen, however, off the New England 

 coast. Its breeding grounds are in Alaska, and Dr. 

 Dall reported it common all along the Yukon, and says 

 that it arrives with the geese about May ist, but ap- 

 pears coming down the Yukon instead of up the 

 stream. It breeds in the great marshes, near the mouth 

 of that river. 



This species is said to be much more common on the 

 Pacific than on the Atlantic coast, in winter resorting 

 in great numbers to lakes in Washington, Oregon and 

 portions of California, where it is often found mingled 

 with the trumpeter swan. It is common in winter on 

 the South Atlantic coast, being usually abundant in the 

 Chesapeake Bay and in Currituck Sound and to the 

 southward. Congregating in great flocks, its snowy 

 plumage and musical call notes are pleasing features of 

 this wide water. Few swans are killed, and the old- 

 time gunners declare that swans are as numerous as 

 they ever were, or are even increasing. 



The whooping swan of Europe (Cygnus cygnus) is 

 supposed to occur in Greenland, and is therefore given 

 in the ornithologies as a bird of America. It has not 

 been taken on this continent. It is white in color, and 

 has the bill black at the tip, with the lores and basal 

 portion of the bill yellow. • 



