643 Ebpoet of State Geologist. 



(Richardson.) Mr. T. H. Ball infonns me that formerly swans bred in 

 the Kankakee marshes in Lake County. 



They migrate almost wholly through the Mississippi Valley. In the 

 fall it appears sooner than the other species. Although not identified, 

 the swans observed by Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., at Calumet Lake, lU., in 

 September, 1887, were probably this species. It, too, is less frequently 

 observed in fall, and may be a winter resident. Dr. F. W. Langdon 

 notes one specimen of this species seen on the Ohio River near Cincin- 

 nati, in December, 1876, which was taken, and is preserved in the col- 

 lection of Max Wocher, in that city. (Jour. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., I, 

 1879, p. 185.) The swans observed by Mr. Gault in January and noted 

 under the last species may belong to this. Prof. Cooke notes that it 

 sometimes winters north to Illinois. The larger part, however, pass 

 farther south, where it is abundant in winter along the Gulf coast. 



The earliest migratory record in the spring is February 23, 1890. 

 On that day Mr. H. W. McBride identified a flock of eight at Waterloo, 

 Dekalb County. 



The same date, February 22, in 1894, a gentleman at Valparaiso 

 shot one out of a flock of seven as they were "Coming in" to alight in a 

 spring hole. The day was very cold and much snow was on the 

 ground. The bird weighed 24J pounds. The following are the meas- 

 urements: Length, 50.00; extent, 83.00; width, 21.00; tail, 8.00; tail 

 of 34 feathers. This specimen is now in the collection of Mr. Ruthven 

 Deane, Chicago. Dr. Vernon Gould informs me that six or eight were 

 shot near Rochester in March, 1890. He dissected one, and is positive 

 of the identification. In the spring of 1883 a flock of eight alighted on 

 Cedar Lake, Lake County, and three were shot with a rifle. (L. T. 

 Mej'er.) Three were noted at Laporte March 24, 1896. (Chas. Bsii- 

 ber.) Mr. J. P. Feagler saw two at Waterloo March 18, 1897, and 

 saw others March 22. Prof. Evermann notes that it has been taken in 

 Carroll County. (The Auk, October, 1888, p. 346.) 



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, averaging 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 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 (0. colurabianus), and said 



