SWANS. 187 



similarly colored, except as to the bill, which is usually marked at 

 the base with a spot of bright yellow. The nostrils, too, are me- 

 dian, instead of being as in the Trumpeter, in the basal half of the 

 bill. The young are grey. 



This species was found by Mr. Dall, breeding in large numbers 

 on the great marshes near the mouth of the Yukon in Alaska. 

 The eggs are generally two in number, yellowish white in color 

 and measure from four to four and one half inches in length, and 

 from two and one half to two and three-quarters in breadth. In 

 July, when the Swans are moulting and cannot fly, the Indians of 

 Alaska destroy great numbers of them by spearing them with 

 their bone tridents. The few Swans that are annually secured on 

 the Atlantic coast, are for the most part killed on the Chesapeake 

 Bay or at Currituck. They are not systematically pursued, but are 

 generally captured by carelessly flying too close to gunners who 

 are lying in wait for ducks or geese. 



Except the Whiteheaded and Golden Eagles, the Swan has no 

 enemies except man, for it is so large and powerful, and so wary a 

 bird, as not to fear the attacks of any animal. 



In some seasons swan are very abundant in the coast waters 

 of North Carolina, adjacent to Currituck. One December, as 

 we passed on a little steamer from Norfolk through the Dismal 

 Region to the duck-shooting club grounds of Currituck, the 

 beautiful white swan in countless numbers lined the left bank 

 of the sound for almost the entire distance. Seen from a half 

 mile or so away, they appeared like one continued stretch of 

 white surf, reaching out from the shore for forty yards or more. 



