198 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



very abundant in this neighbourhood^ and remained 

 with the party all winter ; and in number they exceed 

 those of the larger species in the proportion of five to 

 one." It thus seems to winter not further north than the 

 mouth of the Columbia River. Dr. Richardson observes, 

 that it breeds on the sea coast, within the arctic circle, 

 and is only seen in the interior of the fur countries 

 during the season of its passage. It makes its appear- 

 ance in spring amongst the latest of the migratory birds ; 

 while the trumpeter swans, with the exception of the 

 eagles, are the earhest. Captain Lyon describes its nest 

 as built of moss-peat, near six feet long, four and three 

 quarters wide, and two feet high on the outside ; the 

 eavity being a foot and a half in diameter. The eggs are 

 brownish white, slightly clouded with a darker tint. 



The plumage is entirely pure white, except the crown, 

 nape, and upper parts of the neck, which are deeply 

 tinged with reddish orange ; and the belly, which is 

 slightly tinted with the same : the bill and feet are 

 black ; but the cere and irides are orange. Old birds 

 are said to be entirely white; while the young ones are 

 grey. The second and third quills are the longest, and «f 

 equal length : the tail is wedge-shaped, and of eighteen 

 feathers. The total length is about fifty-five inches, of 

 which the wings occupy a little more than twenty. 



The Trumpeter Swan. 

 Cygnus buccinator, Richardson. 



White ; head glossed above with chestnut : bill entirely 

 black, with a tubercle ; tail feathers 24 : feet black. 



Cygnus buccinator, Rich., in Northern Zoology, ii. 464. 



Obscure intimations of this singular bird appear to 

 have been given by some of the North American travel- 

 lers of the last century ; but it was only distinctly cha- 

 racterised as a species by Dr. Richardson, in his account 

 of the birds of Arctic America, where it chiefly breeds. 

 Whether the excessive cold of its natural haunts would 



