79 



Merrill and Mr. Sennett found it a rather abundant summer resident 

 along the lower Eio Grande, in Texas. Dr. Merrill says of it : 



This large arid handsome bird arrives from the south in April, and is soon found in 

 abundance on the river banks and lagoons. Migrating at night, it continually utters 

 a very peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indicates its presence. Called by the 

 Mexicans patos maizal, or Cornfield Duck, from its habit of frequenting those locali- 

 ties. It is by no means shy, and large numbers are offered for sale in the Brownsville 

 market. Easily domesticated, it becomes very tame, roosting at night in trees with 

 chickens and turkeys. When the females begin to lay, the males leave them and 

 gather in large flocks on sand-bars in the river. My knowledge of the breeding hab- 

 its is derived from Dr. S. M. Finley, U. S. A., who had ample apportunity of observing 

 these birds at Hidalgo. The eggs are deposited in hollow trees and branches, often 

 at a considerable distance from water (2 miles), and from 8 to 30 feet or more from 

 the ground. The eggs are placed on the bare wood, and are from twelve to sixteen 

 in number. Two broods are raised, and the parent carries the young to water in her 

 bill. The birds leave in September, but a few late broods are seen as late as Novem- 

 ber (Proc. U. S. National Museum, Vol. I, 187^, p. 169). 



178. Dendrocygna fulva (Gmel.). [GOO. J Fulvous Tree -duclc. 



A tropical and subtropical species, coming north in summer to Texas 

 and Louisiana. In southwestern Texas it is rather common. Near the 

 mouth of the Eio Grande it is abundant (Merrill). Mr. Lloyd found it 

 tolerably common in the winter of 1884 on the North Concho, in Texas. 

 It was also given as common near the mouth of, the Nueces river. 



180. Olor columbianus (Ord). [588.] Whistling Swan. 



Breeds in the far North ; occurs in winter on the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf coasts. Sometimes it winters abundantly on Galveston bay, 

 Texas (Nehrling) ; and occasionally it winters in Illinois. In migration 

 it is found in Missouri, Kansas, and northward. At San Angelo, Tex., 

 Mr. Lloyd saw seven in January, 1884. The reports on its migration 

 are very irregular, and all that can safely be said is that the species 

 passed through the middle district in March, and reached Oak Point, 

 Manitoba, May 4. 



In the spring of 1885 some Swans of this species were shot in the 

 vicinity of Saint Louis, Mo., March 24. In the fall of 1885 the last were 

 seen at Heron Lake, Mi'nn., November 13. 



181. Olor buccinator (Ricb.). [589.] Trumpeter Swan. 



Winters abundantly and regularly on the Gulf of Mexico, and some- 

 times north to Illinois. Breeds from Iowa and Minnesota northward. 

 It was reported as breeding near Newton, Iowa, and at Heron Lake, 

 Minn., as well as along the Red Biver of the North. In 1884 it reached 

 Heron Lake, Minn., April 3, and Larimore, Dak., April 15. 



In the spring of 1885 Trumpeter Swans were reported from Shawnee- 

 town, 111., March 19 ; Paris, 111., March 31, and Heron Lake, Minn., 

 April 7. A small flock, probably of this species, was seen at Mount 

 Carinel, Mo., June 4 and 7. In the fall of 1885 it left Heron Lake, 

 Minn., November 9. In western Texas it is tolerably common in win- 

 ter (Lloyd). 



