SNOW-GOOSE AND SWAN 



283 



described and recognized by ornithologists, 

 the "Greater" Snow-Goose, and the "Lesser." 

 If the specimen under the tape is a large one, it 

 is the former species; but if it is smaller than 

 the average, it is booked as the "Lesser." Ob- 

 viously, the wisest course is to discard both 

 adjectives of size, and recognize the Snow-Goose 

 only, be it more or less. 



This easily recognized bird, like the ma- 

 jority of our other wild geese and ducks, wan- 

 ders over almost the whole of the well-watered 

 portion of North America down to Cuba and 

 Mexico; but where the guns of civilization are 

 most numerous it is now a rare and lonesome 

 bird. To-day it is more abundant — or it 

 were better to say, less scarce — in the Mississippi 

 valley, Texas, and the Pacific states than else- 

 where. Where they were permitted to do so, 

 these birds often assembled in large flocks, and 

 often made themselves conspicuous around 

 the prairie-ponds of the Dakotas and Minne- 

 sota. When you are travelling over the Northern 

 Pacific Railway, or the Great Northern, and 

 see on the smooth prairie a flock of rather large 

 white birds, it is safe to declare that they are 

 Snow-Geese. 



The Swans. — Last of the Order of Ducks, 

 and farthest from the type of the Order, are 

 the Swans. Although two species are recog- 

 nized, the difference between them is not always 

 visible to the naked eye. 



The Trumpeter Swan 1 is one of our largest 

 birds, and considering its great size it is strange 

 that it has not been exterminated ere this. 

 Its existence speaks highly for its wariness. 

 Living specimens are purchasable at from $20 

 to $30 each, and the majority of them come 

 from Texas and the plains region. To my 

 mind, this is the least attractive of all the 

 large swimming-birds, and it certainly is one 

 of the most pugnacious and quarrelsome. 

 In captivity, Trumpeter Swans always wish to 

 do the wrong thing. Even when policy de- 

 mands that they at least appear friendly, they 

 are always truculently hissing at and threatening 

 their human neighbors, friends as well as ene- 

 mies. This Swan's voice is like a short blast 



1 O'lor buc-cin-a'tor. Length, 4 feet 8 inches ; 

 height, when standing erect, 3 feet 9 inches; 

 expanse of wings, 7 feet 10 inches; weight, 22 

 pounds. 



on a French horn, but when a large flock rises 

 from a pond in a wilderness, and gets fairly 

 under way, the chorus given forth on such occa- 

 sions I know to be decidedly musical, and 

 also heart-breaking when out of range. 



With birds smaller than themselves, Swans 

 often are so quarrelsome and murderous they 

 require to be separated, and yarded by them- 

 selves. 



On level ground, the Swan is the most un- 

 gainly of all the American members of the 

 Order of Ducks; and even afloat, its bows lie 

 much too deep in the water. 



The central line of migration and distribu- 

 tion of this species is the western boundary of 

 the states forming the western bank of the 

 Mississippi. It breeds from Iowa northward 

 to the Barren Grounds, and in the United 

 States straggles eastward and westward to both 

 shores of the continent. I have seen speci- 

 mens taken in 1885 in the Potomac River, and 

 it has often been observed near Los Angeles, 

 southern California. 



Thus far, only one naturalist (so far as we 

 know) ever has heard the "Song of the Dying 

 Swan." Mr. D. G. Elliot, in "Wild Fowl of 

 North America," records the following inter- 

 esting observation: 



"Once, when shooting in Carrituck Sound, 

 . . . a number of Swan passed over us at 

 a considerable height. AVe fired at them, and 

 one splendid bird was mortally hurt. On re- 

 ceiving his wound the wings became fixed, and 

 he commenced at once his song, which was 

 continued until the water was reached, nearly 

 half a mile away. I am perfectly familiar with 

 every note a Swan is accustomed to utter, but 

 never before nor since have I heard any like 

 those sung by this stricken bird. Most plaintive 

 in character, and musical in tone, it sounded 

 at times like the soft running of the notec in an 

 octave." 



The Whistling Swan 2 is accorded rank as a 

 species chiefly on the strength of a small yellow 

 patch on the base of the bill — which is not al- 

 ways present! Young Swans of both species 

 are of a dirty-gray color — not white ; but the 

 plumage of the adult bird is perfectly white. 

 The bill and feet are jet black. 



2 O'lor co-lum-bi-an'us . 



