: AVES. 385 
flight. When bewildered in foggy weather they appear sometimes to be in 
great distress, flying about in an irregular manner and for a considerable 
length of time over the same quarter, making a great clamor. On ‘these 
occasions, should they approach the earth and alight, which they some- 
times do to rest and recollect themselves, the only hospitality they meet 
with is death and destruction from a whole neighborhood already in arms 
for their reception. Wounded geese have in numerous instances been 
completely domesticated, and readily pair with the tame grey goose. The 
offspring is said to be larger than either, but the characteristic marks of the 
wild goose still predominate.” 
Another large American species is the snow goose, A. hyperboreus, 
which is entirely white. It is not so frequently seen as the Canada goose, 
but occasionally is shot on the Atlantic coast and in the rivers. The other 
American geese are the brant (A. bernicla) and some others which are also 
European species. Other geese are inhabitants of Asia and Africa. 
Sub-fam. 3. Cygnine, or Swans. Bill about the length of the head, 
covered at base with a soft cere; wings moderate ; tail short; tarsi mode- 
rate; feet large; neck very long. Size large, color mostly white. 
There are about ten species of swans inhabiting various countries of the 
globe, but principally distributed in the northern latitudes. They live on 
the lakes and rivers generally in small parties, subsisting on various aquatic 
plants. There are several European species, one of which, the mute or 
tame swan, Cygnus olor (pl. 91, fig. 7), is well known as being almost 
domesticated. “This species,’ observes Sir William Jardine, “is chiefly 
known as an ornament on our rivers and artificial waters, and at a very 
early period of our history so much importance was attached to having 
these birds that laws were enacted, and it required a certain qualification 
and sometimes royal consent for persons to keep them on their domain.” 
At the enumeration of these birds in 1843 the number owned by Queen 
Victoria in the various. lakes and waters of the grounds attached to her 
palaces was 232, a fact which shows the high estimation in which it is yet 
held as an ornamental bird. The other European species are the hooper 
swan, C. ferus (pl. 91, fig. 8), Bewick’s swan (C. bewickit), and the 
Polish swan (C. immutabilis). 
There are two American species, the trumpeter swan (C. buccinator) 
and the western swan (C. americanus). The former is frequently met 
with in the waters throughout the whole country, the latter is more western 
and southern in its range. They much resemble in history the European 
swans. In California and Oregon a large species is found which has a 
black neck and back (C. nigricollis). An entirely black swan inhabits 
Australia, C. atrata. 
Sub-fam. 4. Anatine, or Fresh Water Ducks. Bill rather long, broad, 
depressed, lateral margins lamellated ; tarsi short, compressed ; feet large. 
Size smaller than the preceding, colors various. 
This sub-family contains about seventy-five species of ducks, all of 
which habitually live in fresh waters though occasionally seen on the sea- 
shores, and reside in all countries. 
589 
