120 C. H. Merriam Birds of Connecticut. 



of the Purple Gallinule was shot at ' Henry's Pond,' ' South-end,' 

 Rockport, Mass., on April 12th, [1875] by Mr. Robert Wendell."* 



228. Fulica Americana Gmelin. Common Coot; Mud Hen. 



Common during the migrations, particularly in fall. May breed. 

 Linsley took five specimens at Stratford, remarking that it was " by 

 no means common" there. Last October (1876), my friend, Mr. A. J. 

 Dayan, shot several on Lake Whitney, and ascertained that no less 

 than fifty specimens were killed there during that month ! 



Family, ANATIDJE. 



229. Cygnus Americarms Sharpless. Whistling Swan. 



A rare, almost accidental, visitor, occurring only in winter. 

 Linsley mentions the occurrence of four specimens, at Stratford, 

 Conn., two of which were killed. My friend, Dr. Wm. H. Hotchkiss, 

 of this city, tells me that he was informed, by William Beers, 

 Esq., that two Swans were seen in Branford Harbor, during a severe 

 gale, about the middle of March, 1876. I take it for granted that 

 they were of this species, since there is no positive record of the 

 occurrence of the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) within our 

 limits. Mr. Grinnell also informs me that several Swans were seen 

 near Milford, Conn., about the same time. Swans were once common 

 in New England, during the migrations, as seen from Morton's 

 remarks concerning them (in 1632): "And first of the Swanne, 

 because she is the biggest of all the fowles of that Country. There 

 are of them in Merrimack River, and in other parts of the Country, 

 greate Store at the seasons of the yeare. The flesh is not much de- 

 sired of the inhabitants, but the skinnes may be accompted a com- 

 modity, fitt for divers uses, both for fethers, and quiles."f 



NOTE. The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator Richardson), 

 may, and very probably does, sometimes occur within our limits. 

 Dr. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, informs me that a hunter in his 

 vicinity, who was perfectly familiar with this bird in the West, where 

 they were common, once told him that he had heard the unmistaka- 

 ble note of the Trumpeter Swan, but did not see the bird. A short 



* Am. Nat., vol. ix, No. 10, p. 5*73, Oct., 1875. 

 f Force's Historical Tracts, vol. ii, Tract 5, p. 46. 



