TRUMPETER SWAN. 225 



broad reticulated entire membranes. Claws rather small, strong, arched, 

 compressed, rather obtuse, that of the middle toe much larger, with a dilated 

 thin edge. 



A portion of the forehead about half an inch in length, and the space 

 intervening between the bill and the eye, are bare. Plumage dense, soft, 

 and elastic; on the head and neck the feathers oblong, acuminate; on the 

 other parts in general broadly ovate and rounded, on the back short and 

 compact. Wings long and broad, the anterior protuberance of the first 

 phalangeal bone very prominent; primaries curved, stiff, tapering to an 

 obtuse point; the second longest, exceeding the first by half an inch, and the 

 third by a quarter of an inch; secondaries very broad and rounded, some of 

 the inner rather pointed. Tail very short, graduated, of twenty-four stiffish, 

 moderately broad, rather pointed feathers, of which the middle exceeds the 

 lateral by two inches and a quarter. 



Bill and feet black, the outer lamellate edges of the lower mandible, and 

 the inside of the mouth, yellowish flesh-colour. The plumage is pure white, 

 excepting the upper part of the head, which varies from brownish-red to 

 white, apparently without reference to age or sex, as in Cygnus Americanus 

 and t/inser hyperboreus. 



Length to end of tail 68 inches; bill along the ridge 4-f-f, from the eye to 

 the tip 6, along the edge of lower mandible A-?%', breadth of upper mandible 

 neap the base 1 T 5 2, near the end Iff; wing from flexure 27; tail 8^; tarsus 

 4y 8 2; first toe ~|, its claw f^; second toe 4 T 9 2, its claw 1; third toe 6, its claw 

 1-ff ; fourth toe 5-fi, its claw f-g. 



Young after first moult. 



In winter the young has the bill black, with the middle portion of the 

 ridge, to the length of an inch and a half, light flesh-colour, and a large 

 elongated patch of light dull purple on each side; the edge of the lower 

 mandible and the tongue dull yellowish flesh-colour. The eye is dark brown. 

 The feet dull yellowish-brown, tinged with olive; the claws brownish-black; 

 the webs blackish-brown. The upper part of the head and the cheeks are 

 light reddish-brown, each feather having towards its extremity a small oblong 

 whitish spot, narrowly margined with dusky; the throat nearly white, as 

 well as the edge of the lower eyelid. The general colour of the other parts 

 is greyish-white, slightly tinged with yellow; the upper part of the neck 

 marked with spots similar to those on the head. 



Length to end of tail 52 \ inches; extent of wings 91, wing from flexure 

 23^; bill along the ridge 4|-, from the angle of the eye 6, along the edge of 

 the lower mandible 4^; tarsus 4^; hind toe H, its claw f; middle toe 6|-, its 

 claw 1; inner toe 4^, its claw |f; outer toe 6i, its claw f. Weight 19 lbs. S 

 oz.; the bird very poor. 



Vol. VI. 31 



