122 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
state game warden, Charles S. Pierce, who kindly gave two to the Agricul- 
tural College and two to the University of Michigan, and they are now on 
exhibition in the museums of these institutions. ; 
Kumlien and Hollister say ‘‘ During late fall, just before the larger lakes 
freeze over, this species is not at all rare in suitable localities” (Birds of 
Wisconsin, 1903, p.31). Butler says “‘ Formerly when these birds were more 
abundant they migrated in flocks of 20 or 30, and sometimes as many as 
50, high in the air, in two converging lines like a flock of Canada Geese. 
It is said that there is not the noticeable movement of the wings as with 
geese, yet when traveling at their ordinary gait, with the wind in their 
favor, it is estimated that they travel at least 100 miles an hour” (Birds 
of Indiana, 1897, p. 640-641). This estimate of their speed is doubtless 
much too high, probably 50 miles an hour would be nearer the truth. 
It was this species of swan which was killed in large numbers at Niagara 
Falls about the middle of March, 1908, as noted in the newspapers and de- 
scribed in greater detail in some of the scientific journals. Large flocks 
alighted in the Niagara River above the falls and on two or three different 
days numbers were swept over the brink into the seething water and grind- 
ing ice below and were either killed outright or were so crippled as to be 
easily captured by hunters on the watch for them. On March 15 not less 
than 100 swans were thus killed (Auk, X XV, 1908, 306-309.) 
The Whistling Swan breeds in the Arctic or Sub-Arctic regions, the nest 
being a mere heap of vegetable rubbish on the ground; the eggs, 2 to 5, 
are white or buffy-white, averaging 4.19 by 2.72 inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Hinder end of nostril nearer to the tip of the bill than to the corner of the eye, that is, 
usually nearer to the tip of the bill than the base, tail-feathers 20. Adult: Entire 
plumage pure white, the bill and feet black, a distinct yellowish spot on or near the base of 
the upper mandible; iris brown. Young: Ashy or brownish ashy, the bill largely flesh 
color and the feet grayish or whitish. 
Length about 43 feet; wing 21 to 22 inches; culmen 3.80 to 4.20; tarsus 4 to 4.32. 
65. Trumpeter Swan. Olor buccinator (Rich.). (181) 
Synonyms: Cygnus buccinator, Rich., 1831, Nutt., Aud., and authors generally. 
May be separated from the preceding, which it resembles, by three points, 
viz., much larger size; bill and lores entirely black in adult; nostrils placed 
midway between tip of bill and eye, or nearer the eye. In the Whistling 
Swan, according to Ridgway, the nostril is nearer to the tip of the bill 
than to the eye, and this point holds good at any age after the young are 
able to fly. 
According to Eaton the Whistling Swan is distinguished from the 
Trumpeter Swan by its smaller size, 20 instead of 24 tail-feathers, yellow 
or yellowish spot on the side of the bill, and particularly by the different 
shape and dimensions of the bill (Birds of New York, Vol. 1, 1909, pp. 
236-237). The difference in the bills most easily recognized is the fact that 
in the Trumpeter Swan the sides of the upper mandible are approximately 
parallel from base almost to tip, while in the Whistling Swan the bill is 
somewhat spatulate, that is, narrower in the middle than towards the tip. 
There are also anatomical differences, particularly in the manner in which 
the windpipe (trachea) is coiled or convoluted in the breast bone or sternum. 
This point, however, can be determined only by dissection. Eaton claims 
