82 Coale, The Trumpeter Swan. [jan. 



THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE TRUMPETER SWAN 

 (OLOR BUCCINATOR). 



BY HENRY K. COALE. 



Plates VII-X. 



At the meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union held in 

 New York City, in the fall of 1913, a number of members were 

 discussing the rarity of the Trumpeter Swan; the general opinion 

 being that this magnificent bird was nearing extinction ; and would 

 soon disappear forever. 



During the ensuing winter, upon looking up the literature on the 

 subject, I was surprised to find how little was known about this 

 bird; many writers simply repeating Dr. Richardson's remarks in 

 his original description. I determined to gather together the 

 published records of the bird and ascertain as nearly as possible 

 how many specimens are extant. 



In the present paper I have brought together many facts from 

 various sources, including information gleaned through correspond- 

 ence with curators of museums, and private collectors. Of the 

 eighty-five replies received in response to my inquiries, sixty-three 

 from museums having 1,000 or more birds, reported "No specimens 

 of the Trumpeter Swan in our collection." Of the remaining 

 twenty-two replies, eight were from museums and five from col- 

 lectors, who have specimens; while nine contained interesting in- 

 formation about the species. 



It was not until 1831 that the discovery was made by Dr. John 

 Richardson of the existence of a new species of swan in North 

 America (Fauna Boreali Americana, by William Swainson and John 

 Richardson, London, 1831). Up to that time the thousands of 

 swan skins that were shipped, through the Hudson Bay Company, 

 were thought to be all of one kind — Olor columbianus. In Dr. 

 Richardson's original description of Cygnus buccinator we find: 

 "Special characters; white; head glossed above with chestnut; 

 bill entirely black; without a tubercle; tail feathers 24; feet black. 

 This is the most common swan in the interior of the fur countries. 



