1388 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
The trumpeter-swan (Cygnus buccinator) is a very large 
bird, measuring five feet from the point of the bill to the end of 
the tail, and six feet across from tip to tip of the outstretched 
wings. The plumage is snowy-white in color, its legs and bill 
black. The name of “trumpeter’’ is given to it because of its 
clarion-like scream, which is heard as it flies. It frequents the 
lakes in the northern and northeastern parts of the state, and 
is sometimes seen in the rivers. It is a shy bird, and is rarely 
killed. 
The American swan, found also on the Atlantic slope of the 
continent, is similar in appearance and size to the trumpeter, 
but lacks its loud voice, and is otherwise distinguishable from 
it chiefly by having an orange-colored spot on its bill in front 
of the eye, whereas the bill of the Cygnus buccinator is en- 
tirely black. 
Wild geese are very abundant in California during the 
spring and fall, when they pass through on their migrations. 
Among them are the Canada goose (Bernicla canadensis), the 
snow-goose (Anser hyperboreus), the white-footed goose, or 
“speckled belly” (Anser erythropus), Hutchins’s goose (Ber- 
nicla hutchinsii), and the black brandt (Bernicla nigricans). 
Hutchins’s goose is more abundant than any of the others. 
Some of them, while in the state, get all their food in the tules ; 
others in the spring resort to the fields of young grain, where 
they pasture. Dr. Newberry says: “I was much interested in 
noticing the perfect harmony of intercourse which seemed to ex- 
ist among the smaller species. They intermingled freely while 
feeding, and when alarmed arose without separation; and I 
have seen a triangle flying steadily high over my head, com- 
posed of individuals of three species, each plainly distinguish- 
able by its plumage, but each holding its place in the geomet- 
rical figure, as though it was composed of entirely homogene- 
ous material; perhaps unequal members of the darker species, 
with three, four, or more pure snow-white geese flying togeth- 
er somewhere in the converging lines.” 
Among the ducks of California are the mallard and canvas 
