134 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



refer to a single nest, for the ordinary number is from three to six. 

 The nest is usually upon a small island in some secluded lakelet, 

 or on a rounded bank close to the border of a pOnd. The eggs are 

 deposited in a depression made in a heap of rubbish gathered by the 

 birds from the immediate vicinity of the nest, and is composed of 

 grass, moss, and dead leaves, forming a bulky affair in many cases. 

 On June 14th, 1880, a swan was seen flying from the side of a small 

 pond on the marsh near St. Michael, and a close search finally re- 

 vealed the nest. The eggs were completely hidden in loose moss, 

 which covered the ground about the spot, and in which the bird 

 had made a depression by plucking the moss and arranging it for 

 that purpose. The site was so artfully chosen and prepared that I 

 passed the spot in my search, and one of my native hunters coming 

 close behind, called me back, and thrusting his stick into the moss 

 exposed the eggs. (Nelson.) I have a clutch of four eggs taken on 

 the mainland opposite Herschell island on June 15th, 1905 by Rev. 

 C. E. Whittaker. The nest consisted of a pile of weeds with a cavity 

 at the top lined with feathers and down. (Raine.) 



181. Trumpeter Swan. 



Olor buccinator (Rich.) Wagler. 1832. 



Stragglers are occasionally seen on Lake St. Clair and on the north 

 side of Lake Erie and doubtless on Lake Ontario, but by many 

 observers this species is referred to the more common whistling 

 swan, 



Occasionally seen passing over Manitoba, flying high in the spring. 

 More plentiful in the autumn. Only a few specimens noted by 

 Spreadborough at Indian Head, Sask., in the middle of April, 1892. 

 Seen passing over Revelstoke, B.C., from i8th to 20th April, 1890. 

 This is the most common swan in the interior of the Northwest 

 Territories. 



It breeds as far south as lat. 61°, but principally within the Arctic 

 circle and in its migrations generally precedes the geese by a few 

 days. (Richardson.) Richardson describes a specimen killed on 

 Hudson bay. Barnston speaks of the breeding of swans near East 

 Main fort, on James bay, and of eggs being brought to him from a 

 nest on the banks of a lake near Norway House. His remarks 

 probably refer to this species, as it has a more southern breeding 



