V 



426 



LAMELLIRdSTRAL SWIMMKRS — AN'SEUKfl. 



"The priiiciiml mmtomiwjl ehiiriicter of thin 8|K;cie(i in the iliHponition of tho trncliua in tlir 

 Btcniuiii, it iiiiikiiih' liiit one hnri/ontnl liiiii upon iLsi-lf at thi; point farthest from ils entrance in 

 the front of the eiilai^ed carina. We have not iuul the opportunity of exanliniM^r full nki'letons or 

 perfect Hkulls of the other North American M|(fcieH of Swan (O. Intccinutor), hut it pruliably a^reeM 

 with Ihiti in tlie purticulurH dilferiiig from tlie other AitMrinte. The ^^eiierul form of the skull is 



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JI^^HI 



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mudi more slender ; its height is less in proiwrtion to its leiigtli ; the occipital condyle is deeinr 

 and more rounded ; the descending process of the lachrymal shows a widely expanded quadrate 

 external surface, which is wanting in the Geese. The development of the frontal sinuses, aiul 

 the obliteration of the retreating angle between the anterior jwtrtions of the 'rontul bones, whicli 

 is sometimes to be observed, appear to be merely evidences of full maturity." (fl. M. Bannis- 

 ter, MS.) 



The smaller of the North American Swans, known amon^ authors as the "Ameri- 

 can Swan,'' is found throu^'hoiit the more northern jtoitions of the continent from 

 the Atlantic to tlie raeitic. It is not, however, abundant on either coast near tlie 

 sea. In the summer it fretjuents the lii^'h interior, and breeds on islands in inland 

 lakes ami along tlie shores of the Arctic Ocean. It is very rare in New Entfland, 

 though ])robably some of this species do pass over this region each year in tlitir 

 autumnal migrations ; in fact, specimens are occasionally secured. ( )iie was taken 

 at Xahant, and is now in the museum of tiie Hostoii Society of Xatural History, 1 

 am not aware, however, tliat any have been observed in New England in the sjjrin.u. 

 Mr. (liraud includes this liird among the winter visitants of Long Island, and it is 

 the only Swan known to occur in that neighborliood. 



On the Pacific coast large flocks of these Swans were seen by Dr. Cooper on the 

 Columbia Kiver, in the Cascade Canon, in IStiO, as early as Ort(dier lil), and their 

 migrations southward appeared to be generally <piite early. Dr. Cooper had pre- 

 viously — in 185.'i — seen them in the lakes of the Columbia riuin. about the saiiie 

 time. He also st *"i that tliis Itird ajjpears t(i be less common in California than 

 the buccinator. During the entire winter it is abundant on the Colunibia Hiver and 

 the fresh-water lakes toward tlie north, so long as these are not frozen. At suili 

 times it occasionally — but very rarely — appears on salt water. These birds arrive 

 on tlie Columbia in Octtdier, flying in long V-shaped lines, and uttering loud whooji- 

 ing cries. They feed almost altogether on vegetable food, such as the roots of tlie 

 Sagittaria, and on grasses and various water-i)lants. In searching for these, as well 

 as for snails, their long necks become quite useful in deep water. 



Hearne, in his " Arctic Voyage " (]>. 435^, writing nearly a century ago, states that 



