Order  VITI  ANSERES. 
Family  I.  AnatidjE. 
The  fourth  Subfamily, 
CYGNIN^E,  or  Swans, 
have  the  Bill  nearly  the  length  of  the  head,  higher  at  the  base  than  broad,  and  covered  with  a  soft  Cere, 
which  in  most  extends  to  each  eye,  the  breadth  of  the  bill  uniform  throughout ;  the  Tarsi  moderate,  and 
the  Toes  lengthened,  with  the  anterior  ones  united  by  a  full  web ;  the  hind  Toe  short,  and  not  margined 
with  a  membranous  lobe  ;  the  neck  very  long. 
Cygntus  Linn.* 
Bill  nearly  the  length  of  the  head,  of  equal  breadth  throughout,  and  much  higher  than  broad  at  the 
base,  which  is  covered  with  a  soft  fleshy  cere  that  extends  in  a  point  to  the  eye  on  each  side  ;  the  apical 
portion  depressed,  and  armed  at  the  tip  with  a  large  nail ;  the  nostrils  more  or  less  in  the  middle  of  the 
bill,  rather  oblique  and  oval.  Wings  moderate,  with  the  second  and  third  quills  equal  and  longest.  Tail 
short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  a  little  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  compressed.  Toes  lengthened,  the 
anterior  ones  united  by  a  full  web,  and  the  hind  toe  short,  and  without  any  marginal  lobe. 
These  graceful  birds  are  principally  distributed  in  the  northern  latitudes  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  They 
appear,  however,  in  the  more  genial  portions  of  these  three  continents  during  extreme  winters,  and  there  are  species 
peculiar  to  the  southern  parts  of  South  America.  They  live  on  the  lakes  and  rivers,  in  small  parties  of  from  five  to 
thirty  individuals.  Various  parts  of  aquatic  plants  form  their  chief  food  ;  in  seeking  for  which  they  have  the  power  of 
submerging  their  heads  for  some  depth  below  the  surface  of  the  water,  where  they  can  retain  them  for  a  considerable 
time.    Their  nest  is  formed  of  a  heap  of  dry  vegetable  matter  ;  and  the  female  lays  from  five  to  seven  eggs. 
1.  C.  Olor  (Gmel.)  Illiger,  PI.  enl.  913.  — Cygnus  sibilus  Pall. ; 
Cygnus  gibbus  Bcchst.  ;  Cygnus  mansuetus  Ray. 
2.  C.  immutabilis  Yarr.  Brit.  Birds,  iii.  p.  131.  fig.  of  head. 
3.  C.  nlgricolUs  (Gmel.)  Steph.  GrifF.  An.  Kingd.  Birds,  pi. — 
Anas  melanocorypha  Molin.  ;  Anas  melanocephala  Gmel. 
4.  C.ferus  Ray. —  Anas  Cygnus  Linn.;  Cygnus  Olor  Pall.  ; 
6.  C.  americanus  Sharpless,  Audub.  Birds  of  Amer.  pi.  406. 
—  Cygnus  Bewickii  Sw.  Faun.  Bor.  Anier.  465.  ;  C.  musicus  Pr. 
Bonap. 
7-  C  buccinator  Rich.  Faun.  Bor.  Amer.  464.,  Audub.  Birds  of 
Amer.  pi.  376. 
8.  C.  coscoroba  (Mol.)  Molina  Chili,  p.  213. —  Cygnus  anatoi'des 
Cygnus  melanorliynchus  Meyer  ;   Cygnus  xanthorhinus  Naum.  ;  King  ;  Anas  chionis  Illiger. 
Cygnus  musicus  Bechst.  ;  Type  of  Olor  Wagl.  (1832).  f).  C.  atrata  (Lath.)  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  286.  —  Anas  plutonia 
5.  C.  minor  Pall.    Jard.  &  Selby's  111.  Orn.  pi.  95.  —  Cygnus  I  Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.  pi.  108. ;  Anser  Nova;  Hollandiae  Bonn.  Labill. 
Bewickii    Yarrell  ;    Cygnus    musicus   Fab.  ?    Cygnus    islaudicus  Voy.  t.  9.  ;  Type  of  Chenopis  Wagl.  (1832). 
Brehm  ;  Cygnus  melanorhinus  Naum. 
*  Linmeus  used  this  name  in  his  Systema  Natures,  of  1735.  The  genus  includes  Olor  and  Chenopis  Wagler,  Isis  (1832). 
October,  18*4. 
