BIRDS OF ONTARIO 21 



(173) Brant. 



(Branta bernicola.) 

 A rare visitor. Breeds on the shores of the Arctic Sea. 



SUBFAMILY CYGNIN^. (THE SWANS.) 

 GENUS OLOR. 



(*) (180) Whistling Swan. 



(Olor columbianus.) 



Of somewhat irregular occurrence; generally a few are seen in the 

 spring. Breeds on the shores of the Arctic Sea. 



(*) (181 Trumpeter Swan. 



(Olor buccinator.) 



Like the last, rarely seen, now. Breeds on the barren grounds and 

 in the* marshes of the far north. 



Order HERODIONES. (Herons, Ibises, etc.) 



Wading birds with compressed bodies, long legs and long neck ; 

 tibia naked below, feet not . palmate ; toes long and slender, cleft or 

 slightly webbed, the hind toe long and usually not elevated, provided 

 with a large claw. Wings broad, rounded, tail short. Head contracted 

 to the stout base of the bill, which is long and usually hard and acute, 

 with sharp cutting edges; nostrils small. They feed upon fish, frogs, 

 mice, and such young birds as may fall in their way. 



FAMILY IBIDID^. 



Bill very long and slender, compressed, cylindric, curved through- 

 out, the upper mandible with a deep groove reaching nearly or quite to 

 the tip; legs rather long, the toes slightly webbed at base'. Head more 

 or less naked; wings broad; tail short; tarsus scutellate in front. 



GENUS PLEGADIS. 



(*) (186) Glossy Ibis. 



(Plegadis autumnalis.) 



An accidental visitor. Mr. Mcllwraith records the capture of two 

 near Hamilton in 1857. I have not heard of any others. 



FAMILY ARDEID^. (THE HERONS, ETC.) 



Bill straight, longer than the head, compressed, acute with sharp 

 cutting edges ; upper mandible grooved ; nostrils linear ; lores naked, the 



