ANATID.E — THE SW^VNS — OLOR. 425 



Mr. Yarrell states that a pair of these Swans bred on one of the islands at the 

 Gardens of the Zoological Society, in the summer of 1839. As the Cygnets, when 

 only a few days old, were simning themselves on the margin of an island close to 

 deep water, a Carrion Crow made a descent and struck at one of them. The male 

 bird came to the rescue in an instant, and seizing the Crow with his beak, pulled it 

 into the water, and in spite of its resistance held it there until it was <lrowned. 



In the eastern parts of Europe this species ranges from the lakes of Siberia in 

 summer to the Caspian Sea in winter. It is said to fly, in the manner of the Wild 

 Goose, in wedge-shaped flocks, uttering, as it moves, a tine melodious clang ; and this 

 is aU which can be put forward on its behalf to support its claim to having a musical 

 voice. Its weight varies, in different individuals of this species, from thirteen to 

 twenty-one pounds. 



The Wild Swan builds on the ground in secluded and marshy places, the nest being 

 large, and composed of rushes and coarse herbage. The egg is described by Yarrell as 

 being of a uniform pale brownish white, and measuring four inches and one line in 

 length by two inches and eight lines in breadth. The incubation of this Swan lasts 

 forty-two days. Its food consists of grasses, weeds, roots, and the seeds of plants. 



According to Wheelwright this bird is only seen diuing the periods of migration 

 in the southern and midland districts of Scandinavia. It breeds up in Lapland, gen- 

 erally in the retired Fell lakes. The eggs are seven in number, in color a brown 

 yellow, rather shorter and thicker than those of the common tame Swan. Many Ijirds 

 of this species remain in the Sound, off the southern coast of Sweden, during mild 

 winters ; but none are seen at this season off the north coast of Finland. An egg in 

 my cabinet, taken by Proctor in Iceland in 1841, is of a dark ivory color, and measures 

 4.30 by 2.90 inches. 



Olor columbianus. 



THE WHISTLING SWAN. 



? Cygnus ferns, Bartr. Trav. 17;il, -iiii (may be 0. bucdnator). 



C'ygnus miisiciis, Boxap. Synop. 1828, 379 (nee Bechst. 1809). 



Cygnus Bewkki, Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, i65 (nee Yarf,.). — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 372. 



Cygnus ferus, NuTT. Wan. II. 1834, 366 (nee Lkach, 1816). 



Cygnus americanus, Sharpless, Doughty's Cab. N. H. I. 1830, 185, pi. 16. — AuD. Orn. Biog. V. 



1839, 133, pi. 411 ; Synop. 1839, 274 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 226, pi. 384. — Bairp, B. N. Am. 



1858, 758 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 561rt. — CoUEs, Key, 1872, 281 ; Cbeek List, 1873, no. 



477 ; B. N. W. 1874, 545. 

 Olor americanus, Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. 1844, 131. — Bonap. Compt. Rend. XLIII. 1856. — KiDcw. 



Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 588. 

 Anas columbianus, Ord, Gnthrie's Geog. 2d Am. ed. 1815, 319. 

 Cygnus columbianus, CouES, Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geogr. Snrv. Terr. 2d series, no. 6, 1876, 444 ; Check 



List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 689. 

 Olor columbianus, Stejn. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 5, 1882, 210. 



Hab. The whole of North America, breeding far north ; accidental in Scotland. 



Sp. Char. Tail usually of twenty feathers; bill not longer than the head. Adult: Entire 

 plumage pure white, the head, sometimes the neck, or even entire under parts, tinged with rusty. 

 Bill, tarsi, and feet deep black, the hare loral skin usually marked by an oblong spot of orange 

 or yellow (dull pale reddish, yellowish, or whitish in the skin) ; iris brown. Young: Light 

 plumbeous, paler beneath, the fore ])art and top of the head tinged with reddish brown. Bill 

 reddish flesh-color, dusky at tlie tiji ; feet dull yellowish flesh-color, or grayish. 



Total length, about 53.00-55.50 inches ; extent .about 7.00 feet ; wing, 21.50-22.00 inches ; 

 cidmen, 3.82-4.20 ; tarsus, 4.0G-4.32 ; middle toe, 5.40-5.90. 



VOL. I. — 54 



