682 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS— LAMELLIBOSTBES—ANSEEES. 



tail is short, of 20 to 24 feathers. Although the voice is sonorous at times, an habitual reti- 

 cence of Swans contrasts strongly with the noisy gabbling of Geese and Ducks ; it is hardly 

 necessary to add, that their fancied musical abihty, either in health or at the approach of 

 death, is not confirmed by examination of their vocal apparatus : this is in many oases con- 

 voluted as already described, but there are no syringeal muscles nor other apparatus for modu- 

 lating the voice. There are eight or ten species, of various countries, among them the cele- 

 brated black swan of Australia, Chenopsis atrata, the black -necked swan of South America, 

 Sthenelus melanocorypha {Cygnus nigricollis of authors). The Coscoroba anatmdes of the 

 same country, a species with feathered lores, often referred here, is perhaps better placed 

 among AnatincB. In none of these does the trachea enter the breast-bone. The Palceocycniis 

 falconeri is a large fossil species irom Malta. Our two species belong to the restricted genus 

 Olor, distinguished from Gygnus proper by absence of a tubercle at the base of the bill 

 (seen in fig. 471). The sexes are alike throughout the group. 

 278. CYG/JTUS. (Gr. ioikvos, Jcuknos, Lat. cyenus or oygnus, a swan.) White Swans. Neck of 

 extreme length. Trachea normally entering sternum. Bill tuberculate or not, the' skinny 

 covering in the adults reaching to the eyes ; not shorter than head, very high at base, where 

 deeper than wide, broader and flattening toward the rounded end; culminal ridge at base 

 about horizontal, very broad and flat or even excavated, the sides of the bill there nearly 

 vertical. Nostrils near middle of bill, higli up. Legs behind centre of equilibrium when 

 the body is horizontal. Tibiae bare below. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw, entirely 

 reticulate; toes long, with full webs, the anterior reticulate on top for a distance, then scu- 

 teUate. Hallux small, elevate, with slight lobe. Wings very long and ample. Tail short, 

 rounded (in Olor) or wedged (in Gygnus proper), of twenty or twenty-four feathers. Size 

 large : adults entirely white, with black bill and feet, former usually in part yellow : young 

 rusty on head ; younger gray or ashy. Sexes alike. Our species 4-5 feet long. They all belong 

 to Olor, having non-tuberculate bill, rounded tail, the young with the down on the sides 

 of the bill forming distinct antise ; and the inner webs of the outer three primaries, with outer 

 webs of the 2d, 3d, and 4th, sinuated. 



Analysis of Species. 

 Tail of 24 feathers (normally). Bill entirely black, rather longer than head, nostrils fairly in its basal half 



bucoinator 688 

 Tail of 20 feathers (normally). Bill normally with a small yellow spot not reaching the nostrils, scarcely 



or not larger than head, nostrils at the middle . . , colimibianus 689 



Tail of 20 feathers (normally). Bill normally with a great yellow space extending beyond the nostrils, 

 scarcely or not longer than head, nostrils at the middle musicus 690 



688, C. buccina'tor. (Lat. buccmaior, a trumpeter; bucdna, a trumpet; bucea, the cheek.) 

 Trumpeter Swan. Adult $ 9 : Plumage white, with or without wash of rusty on head. 

 Bin and feet entirely black. BUI more developed in the terminal portion than that of C. 

 americcmus, throwing the nostrils fairly within the basal half, and making the distance from 

 the anterior angle of the eye to the hind edge of the nostril equal to the distance thence to 

 the end of the bUl. Tail-feathers normally 24. Largest : length 5 feet or more when full 

 grown, and extent about 8 feet ; wing 2 feet or more ; tail 8-9 inches. Bill about 4.50 inches 

 along culmen, from eye to tip nearly 6.00 ; tarsus 4.50-5.00; middle toe and claw 5.50-6.00. 

 Young smaller ; bill and feet not perfectly black ; plumage grayish, the head and upper neck 

 rusty-brown. This swan chiefly inhabits N. Am. from the Mississippi valley westward, Texas 

 to the fur countries ; Great Lakes ; Hudson's Bay ; Canada ; casual on the Atlantic Coast. 

 Breeds from Iowa and Dakota northward ; in winter south to the Gulf. 



689. C. columbia'nus. (Of the Columbia Eiver. Fig. 472.) Common American Swan. Whist- 

 ling Swan. Adult <? ? : Plumage as before. BiU with a yellow spot or blotch in front of 

 eye, usually small, sometimes wanting. Bill less lengthened and expanded terminally than in 

 C. huccimator, the nostrils across the middle ; the distance' from the anterior angle of the eye 



