296 SWIMMERS. 



WHISTLING SWAN. 

 Olor columbianus. 



Char. Plumage white ; bill black, with a yellow spot between the 

 eyes and nostrils; legs black. Length about 55 inches. 



Nest. On the margin of a lake or on an ocean island, sometimes in a 

 marsh on a river bank, — a large structure of coarse herbage lined with 

 fine grass or moss. 



Eggs. 2-7 ; dull white, sometimes washed with a greenish or buftish 

 tint ; the surface is rough ; average size about 4.25 X 2.70. 



The Whistling Swan retires into the Arctic regions to pass 

 in more security the period of reproduction during the short 

 but briUiant summers which there prevail. In autumn it 

 migrates over both continents, and in winter is sometimes 

 numerous in the Bay of Chesapeake. Flocks are seen and 

 heard to pass also through various parts of the interior of 

 America, and they are nowhere more abundant at that season 

 than in Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana, to which countries, 

 by the great valley of the Mississippi, they are seen to repair 

 in lofty and numerous flights to the very close of winter, pro- 

 tracting their stay sometimes until driven to move by the 

 severest frosts. In the winter of iSio I saw two of these 

 graceful birds in a state of domestication near St. Louis (Mis- 

 souri), which were obtained with several others at the same 

 time, in consequence of the extreme cold. The thermometer 

 falling to 15° below zero, they were unable to bear the cutting 

 severity of the weather, and fell disabled, accompanied by 

 several Wild Ducks, into an adjoining field, where a few sur- 

 vived and became tame. 



Whistling Swans arrive in Hudson Bay about the end of May 

 in small flocks, accompanied by Geese, and propagate in great 

 numbers along the shores, islands, and inland lakes. These 

 birds, distinguished by their note and inferior size from the 

 following species, are called Hoopejs, and mostly frequent the 

 sea-coast. The Cygnets are esteemed a delicate dish, and 

 the full-grown young are also excellent food. The aborigines 



