ANATIU.E— THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 107 



is now known to do so in Iowa. It is said to orcasionally 

 winter in the southern counties, where mifj^ratino^ flocks arrive 

 from the South about, or a little after, the middle of ^larch, 

 and return from the North about the last of October. 



It is a grand bird, weighing often as much as thirty pounds 

 and sometimes nearly forty, with a spread of wings of eight to 

 nearly ten feet — much greater than any other American bird 

 excepting only the Condor and the California Vulture, both of 

 which are considerably inferior in weight. Its eggs, averag- 

 ing about 4.46 by nearly 3.00 inches in size, are so large that 

 one of them is said to be a sufficient meal for a moderate man. 

 Although so large, it is very swift of wing, and Hearne states 

 that in his opinion it is more difficult to shoot when flying than 

 any other bird. 



The name ''Trumpeter" is derived from its ringing note, much 

 more sonorous than that of the common species ( O. colum- 

 hicm/iis), and said to resemble a blast upon a French horn. 



Olor columbianus (Ord). 



WHISTLING SWAN. 

 Popular synomym. American Swan. 



Cygnus musicua Bonap. Synop. 1828, 379 (ner Bechst. 1809). 



Cygnus bewickiSw. & Eich. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 465 (nee Yarr.).— Nutt. Man. ii. 1.83t, 372. 

 Cygnus ferus Nutt. Man. ii, 1834, 366 {.nee Leach, 1816). 



Cygnus americanus Sharpless, Doughty's Cab. N. H. 1. 1830, 185, pi. 16.— And. Orn. Blogr. 

 V, 1839.133, pi. 411; Synop. 1839, 274; B. Am. vi. 1843, 226, pi. 384.— Baird, B. N. Am. 

 18.58, 758; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 561a.— CouES, Key, 1872, 281; Check List, 1873. No. 

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

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

 RtDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 5.58. 

 Anas columhianus Ord, Guthrie's Geog. 2d Am. ed. 1815. 319. 



Cygnus columhianus Coues, Bull. U. S. Geol. andGeogr. Surv. Terr. 2d series. No. 6, 



1876, 444; Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 689. 

 Olor columhianus Stejn. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. v, 1S82. 210.— B. B.&R. Water B.N. 

 Am. i, 18&4, 425.— A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 180.— Ridg-w. Man.N. Am. B. 1887, 120. 



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: En- 

 tire plumage pure white, the head, sometimes the neck, or eveii entire under parts, tinged 

 with rusty. Bill, and bare loral space black, the latter usually marked by an oblong spot of 

 orange or yellow (dull pale reddish, yellowish, or whitish in the skin); iris brown; legs and 

 feet slate-black or dark slate-color. Young: Light ashy gray, paler beneath, the fore part 

 and top of the head tinged with reddish brown. Bill reddish flesh-color, dusky at the tip; 

 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; 

 cuJmen. 3.82-1.20; tarsus, 4.06-4.32; middle toe, 5.40-5.90. Weight of adults about 18 to 25 lbs. 



