The Whistling Swan 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; pure white plumage; long neck; small yellow 

 spot on lores distinctive for this species. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: Near water, on the ground 

 or upon loose heap of sticks and trash, lined with mosses, grass, and down. Eggs: 

 2-7; sordid white. A v. size 107.2 x 68.6 (4.22 x 2.70). Season: April-June; one brood. 



General Range. — North America. Breeds in northern Alaska from the Alaska 

 Peninsula and from northern Mackenzie and northern Keewatin north over the Arctic 

 islands to about Latitude 74°. Winters on the Pacific Coast from British Columbia 

 to southern California; on the Atlantic Coast from Delaware to South Carolina, rarely 

 from Massachusetts to Florida; and in the interior from Lake Erie and southern 

 Illinois to Louisiana and Texas; casual in northern Mexico and Bermuda. Accidental 

 in Great Britain. 



Distribution in California. — Formerly abundant; now rare winter resident in 

 suitable localities, chiefly lakes and reservoirs, south to San Diego County (Sweetwater 

 Reservoir, Stephens). A notable increase recorded in the season of 1919-20, but not 

 sustained in the succeeding season. 



Authorities. — Gambel {Cygnus americanus) , Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 

 2, i., 1849, p. 225 (Calif.); Torrey, Field-days in Calif., 1913, p. 80 (Santa Barbara, 

 winter; habits, etc.); Willett, Condor, vol. xxi., 1919, p. 126 (Warner Springs, San 

 Diego Co., winter). 



FOR PRACTICAL purposes the American occupation of California 

 dates back to "Forty-nine." The Argonauts not only "put California on 

 the map," but their arrival brought about profound changes in the com- 

 plexion of animal life. The Indian with his snares of thong and his arrows 

 tipped with obsidian had only been a part of the order of nature. His 

 depredations, so far as the birds were concerned, were not to be compared 

 with those of foxes or weasels or falcons. To be sure, the native sampled a 

 Swan now and then for food; but it never occurred to him, a simple- 

 hearted child of nature, that it would be sport to kill these noble birds 

 just for the fun of killing. That remained for the White Man, the crown 

 and exponent of civilization, the hot and heedless heir of the ages. With 

 the same ruthless heel that has trodden down the Red Man, the noblest, 

 the most beautiful, the most exalted examples of the creative handiwork, 

 fit objects of enlightened human interest, have been crushed to earth and 

 almost or quite exterminated. 



The case of the Wild Swan is one of the saddest in American annals. 

 Majestic as well as graceful, of noble proportions as well as harmless con- 

 duct, world-wide symbol of purity and charm, the stately beauty of the 

 Swan was altogether such as to excite admiration and to deserve chival- 

 rous treatment. But what do we see instead? Extravagant praises of the 

 quality of Swan's flesh ! instructions for hanging or garnishing or flavoring 

 with herbs; or worse than that, records of slaughter — slaughter gigantic, 

 wanton, insatiable, and now alas! irremediable. We all know the out- 



1883 



