ANSERIN.t: — THE OEKSE. 



433 



domesticated. In New Orleans examples are frequently exposed for sale in the mar- 

 kets, having been procuretl on the i)onds in tho interior. The waters of the Arkansas 

 and its tributaries are well supplied each winter with this species, and the largest 

 spccinu'n Mr. Audubon ever saw was shot on a lake near the* junction of that river 

 with the Mississii)pi ; it weighed thirty-eight pounds. 



This Swan is said to feed chicffly by parti;illy immersing the body and extending 

 the neck under water in the manner of the fresh-water Ducks, with its feet in the air, 

 thus preserving its bal.ince. Occasionally it resorts to the land, where it feeds, more 

 in the manner of the Duck than in that of the Goose. Its food consists of the roots 

 of various plants, leaves, seeds, aciuatic insects, land-snails, small reptiles, etc. 



Mr. A\idubon once kept a male Swan alive two years. At first extremely shy, it 

 soon became accustomed to the st'rvants, and after a time came at the call of its name, 

 "Trumpeter," and ate bn^ad from the hand. It at last became quite bold, and would 

 drive before it the Turkcv-Cock, as well as the dogs and servants. 



Mr. Mu(!Farlane saw the Trumpeter Swan breeding on the Barren Grounds, on 

 islands in Franklin liay, and near the Arctic coast. In one instance a nest containing 

 six eggs was found near the beach on a rising ground. It was composed of hay, down, 

 and feathers intermixed. This was the general charac-ter as regards stru(!ture and 

 situation of the nests of this species. Those in the Barrens were usually placed on 

 elevated ground ; others were found near the banks of the Lower Anderson River. 

 The usucil nund)er of eggs was four. 



The Trumpeter was also nu^t with on the head-waters of the Frazer Kiver by Mr. 

 Elliot ; as also nccar Fort Yukon, where it was ascertained to breed, and where ex- 

 anqiles of its eggs were procured. Specimens Avere also taken both by Mr. Kennicott 

 and by Mr. Lockhart in the same region ; by Mr. L. Clark and Mr. B. It. Boss at Fort 

 Kae ; and on Big Island by Mr. J. Reid. 



This was the only Swan observed by Mr. E. Adams on Norton Sound, where it 

 appeared by the 3()th of May. It was at no time abundant, but associated itself with 

 others of the species, so as to form Hocks of from two to eight or ten in number. A 

 few were said to l)reed in that locality, but the greater part of them went farther 

 north. 



The eggs of the Trumi)eter are of a uniform chalky white color, and rough and 

 granulated on the surface. They measure from 4.3o inches in length to 4.(j5, and 

 from 2.G5 to 2.90 inches in breadth. 



Situ-family ANSEETNiE. — The Geese. 



The chief characters of the Anserhin; ns (listiiiguisli(><l from tlie Cijgninm and Anatuue, consist 

 ill the more elevated IhhIv, with tlie lengthened le;^s, tilting the species fur a more teri-estrial life, 

 iilthou^h ecjually able to swim. Their necks are very nuieh shorter than in the Swans, and 

 usually longer than those of tlie Ducks. From the latter, all tiie Geese arc distinguished by the 

 character of the covei'ing of the anterior part of tlie tarsus, wiiich consists of small hexagonal scales, 

 ijut in tlie Ducks of narrow traiisvei-se scutollK. Including the genus Dendrocycna, which, notwith- 

 standing its close superficial resemblance to the Ducks, seems to belong rather to this sub-family, 

 the Anserince of North America may be divided into two groups, as follows : — 



Ansereee. Bill tapering to the tip, not Irmger than the head (freciuently shorter) ; nostrils 

 situated near the niidfUe of the maxilla ; only the lower end of the tibia bare. 



Dendrooyonew. Bill depressed and broad at the end, longer than the head, the edges nearly 

 l)arallel ; nostrils situated far posterior to the middle of the maxilla ; lower half of the 

 tibia l)are. 



VOL. r. — .55 



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