WATER BIRDS. 21 
head and neck rather brownish-dusky, and the patch of white streaks on side of neck 
light or wanting. Length 24 inches; extent 48; wing 13; tail 4.50; bill 1.33 ; tarsus 2.25; 
middle toe and claw about the same. 
SWANS, 
KEY TO SPECIES, 
A. A yellow spot near base of bill, in front of eye; tail-feathers 20. 
Whistling Swan. No. 64. 
AA. No yellow spot on bill; tail-feathers 24. Trumpeter Swan. No. 65. 
64. Whistling Swan. Olor columbianus (Ord). (180) 
Synonyms: Swan, Common Swan, Wild Swan.—Anas columbianus, Ord, 1815.— 
oe americanus, Sharpl., 1830, Aud., Baird and others.—Olor columbianus, Stejn., 
Recognized on sight from its resemblance to the domesticated swan of 
our parks and gardens; to be confounded with no other bird except the 
following species, from which, if adult, it may be known by the yellow spot 
on each side of the base of the bill; the Trumpeter Swan has entirely black 
bill and lores. 
Distribution.—The whole of North America, breeding far north. Com- 
mander Islands, Kamchatka; accidental in Scotland. 
This beautiful bird is so conspicuous that it rarely escapes notice when 
migrating or resting by day. Although it is so wary as to be seldom shot, 
it is seen frequently during migration, both spring and fall, and is well known 
to gunners and lake men throughout the state. Single birds or small squads 
occasionally alight during bad weather in ponds and streams in various 
parts of the state, but it occurs most regularly on the Great Lakes, par- 
ticularly on Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. 
From the fact that it is such a difficult bird to shoot most specimens killed 
are preserved, hence we find specimens in nearly every museum or collection 
of any size in the state, and doubtless it has been taken in every county. 
According to Swales (MS. list 1904) ‘‘It isa common migrant in southeastern 
Michigan from March 2 to April 15, and October 26 to November. Large 
flocks occasionally alight on Lake St. Clair in fall, and commonly do so during 
the spring. Generally these are wild and wary and keep out in the lake.” 
At Monroe, Michigan, Mr. B. J. Sauvage states that it is seen flying over 
nearly every spring and sometimes in the fall. At Petersburg, Monroe 
county, Mr. Trombley records 30 seen flying north April 2, 1894. Major 
Boies says it is “occasional in the spring and fall at Neebish Island, St. 
Mary’s River.” Mr. F. H. Chapin, in a letter dated January 4, 1905, says 
“A Whistling Swan in my collection weighed 15 pounds when alive. One 
year ago last November one was shot at Long Lake, Portage township, 
Kalamazoo county, which weighed 23 pounds. Possibly this was a 
Trumpeter, but I never saw the bird. Swans are seen on this lake every 
November but are rarely taken.” 
Early in March, 1910, large flocks of swans gathered in Lake St. Clair, 
and on the 12th several were killed by gunners who were ignorant or care- 
less of the law. Four of these swans were subsequently confiscated by the 
