TRUMPETER SWAN. 437 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed tin the ground in innrsliy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eyys, six to ten in number, oval in 

 form, and dirty white in color. Dimensions from 2'50x4'00 to SJ-75x4'50. 



HABITS. 



Some years ago, in April, I was walking along a street in Baltimore, Maryland, when 

 glancing upward, I saw a wedge-shaped flock of large, white birds, high in air, passing 

 northward, and at once recognized them .as being Swans, the first that I had ever seen un- 

 doniosticatcd, and they were probably on their way to their breeding grounds in the far 

 North. Later, however, when on the yacht, Nina, I found Swans Common in November, 

 in Chesapeake Bay. The notes of the Swans are harsh and loud but are easily recognized. 



CYGNUS BUCCINATOR. 



Trumpeter Swan. 



Cygnus buccinator RICII. F. Bor. Am., II; 1831, 464. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. On. Form, robust. Size, very large. Bill, longer than head, broad, but not very high at base, with nostrils 

 situated in basal portion. COLOR. Adult. Pure white throughout. Iris, brown. Bill and feet, black. Youny. Sim- 

 ilar, but tinged with pale bluLsh-ash and reddish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the very large size, comparatively low base of black bill, and basal situation of nostrils. Distribu- 

 ted, as si summer resident, throughout Arctic America. W inters from New Jersey to the Carolinos. Rare in New En- 

 gland during the migrations. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 55'25; stretch, 85-00; wing, 22'50; tail,7'75; bill, 

 1 -J~>;t irsus, 1- r>. 1, inmost specimen, 58-5(1; greatest extent of wing, UO'OO; longest wing, 23'00: tail, 8-00; bill,5-CO; tarsus, 

 4'60. Shortest specimen, 52'00; smallest extent of wing, 80-00: shortest wing, 21-00; tail, 7'50; bill, 4'50; tarsus, 4'25. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND KGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eyy*, from six to ten in number, oval 

 in form, and dirty-white in color. Dimensions frorn2'50x4-03 to 2 - 76x4'50. 



HABITS. 



The habits of this and the preceding species are so well known, that I shall not at- 

 tempt to enlarge upon them, as I can add nothing new to that which has already been writ- 

 ten. I presume that I saw this species on Chesapeake Bay but as all the Swans are very 

 shy, I did not get near enough to identify them. Both species are exceedingly rare in 

 New England, passing to their northern breeding grounds, through the interior of the 

 country, thus avoiding the coast north of New Jersey. 



GENUS II. ANSER. LONG-BILLED GEESE. 



lii.v. CH. Bill, about as long as head, yenerally briyht in color. Hind toe, rather long. Maryinai indentations , open 

 nml wide. 



Members of this genus are variable in color, but are conspicuously marked with white. The trachea is straight and 

 without dilatation. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 



ANSER HYPERBOREUS. 



Snow Goose. 



Anser Fiyperboreus PALL., Spic. Zool., VI; 17W, 80. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Pure white; primaries Muish-gray at base and black at tip. 

 Iv!-, brown. Bill and legs, red. Youny. Similar, but tinged with yellowish and rufous. 



OBSRRVATIOHB. 



Readily known by the white color, and black tippings to the primaries. Distributed, in summer, throughout An tie 

 Ameriea. Winters in the West. Rare in New England during the migration-. 



