682 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — LAMELLmOSTBES — AN SERES. 
tail is short, of 20 to 24 feathers. Although the voice is sonorous at times, an habitual reti- 
cence of Swans contrasts strongly with the noisy gabbling of Geese and Ducks ; it is hardly 
necessary to add, that their fancied musical ability, either in health or at the approach of 
death, is not confirmed by examination of their vocal apparatus : this is in many cases con- 
voluted as already described, but there are no syringeal muscles nor other apparatus for modu- 
latiug the voice. There are eight or ten species, of various countries, among them the cele- 
brated black swan of Australia, Chejiopsis atrata, the black-necked swan of South America, 
Sthenelus melanocorypha {Cygnus nigricollis of authors). The Coscoroba anato'ides of the 
same country, a species with feathered lores, often referred here, is perhaps better placed 
among Anatince. In none of these does the trachea enter the breast-bone. The Palceocijcnus 
falconeri is a large fossil species from Malta. Our two species belong to the restricted genus 
Olor, distinguished from Cygnus proper by absence of a tubercle at the base of the bill 
(seen in fig. 471). The sexes are alike throughout the group. 
278. CYG'NUS. (Gr. kvkuos, Imknos, Lat. cycnus or cygnus, a swan.) White Swans. Neck of 
extreme length. Trachea normally entering sternum. Bill tuberculate or not, the skinny 
covering in the adults reaching to the eyes not shorter than head, very high at base, where 
deeper than wide, broader and flattening toward the rounded end ; culminal ridge at base 
about horizontal, very broad and flat or even excavated, the sides of the bill there nearly 
vertical. Nostrils near middle of bill, high up. Legs behind centre of equilibrium when 
the body is horizontal. Tibiae bare below. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw, entirely 
reticulate ; toes long, with full webs, the anterior reticulate on top for a distance, then scu- 
tellate. Hallux small, elevate, with slight lobe. Wings very long and ample. Tail short, 
n)unded (in Olor) or wedged (in Cygnus proper), of twenty or twenty-four feathers. Size 
large : adults entirely white, with black bill and feet, former usually in part yellow : young 
rusty on head ; younger gray or ashy. Sexes alike. Our species 4-5 feet long. They all belong 
to Olor, having non -tuberculate bill, rounded tail, the young with the down on the sides 
of the bill forming distinct antiae ; and the inner webs of the outer three primaries, with outer 
webs of the 2d, 3d, and 4th, siuuated. 
Analysis of Species. 
Tail of 24 feathers (normally). Bill entirely black, rather longer than head, nostrils fairly in its basal half 
buccinator 688 
Tail of 20 feathers (normally). Bill normally with a small yellow spot not reaching the nostrils, scarcely 
or not larger than head, nostrils at the middle columbianus 689 
Tail of 20 feathers (normally). Bill normally with a great yellow space extending beyond the nostrils, 
scarcely or not longer than head, nostrils at the middle musicus 690 
688. C. buccina'tor. (Lat. buccinator, a trumpeter; biiccina, a trumpet; bucca, the cheek.) 
Trumpeter Swan. Adult ^ 9 • Plumage vhite, with or without wash of rusty on liead. 
Bill and feet entirely black. Bill more developed in the terminal portion than that of C. 
americanus, throwing the nostrils fairly within the basal half, and making the distance from 
the anterior angle of the eye to the hind edge of the nostril equal to the distance thence to 
the end of the bill. Tail-feathers normally 24. Largest : length 5 feet or more when full 
grown, and extent about 8 feet; wing 2 feet or more; tail 8-9 inches. Bill about 4.50 inches 
along culmen, from eye to tip nearly G.OO ; tarsus 4.50-5.00; middle toe and claw 5.50-6.00. 
Young smaller ; bill and feet not perfectly black ; plumage grayish, the head and upper neck 
rusty-brown. This swan chiefly inhabits N. Am. from the Mississippi valley westward, Texas 
to the fur countries ; Great Lakes ; Hudson's Bay ; Canada ; casual on the Atlantic Coast. 
Breeds from Iowa and Dakota northward; in winter south to the Gulf. 
689. C. columbia'nus. (Of the Columbia River. Fig. 472.) Common American Swan. Whist- 
ling Swan. Adult $ 9 • Plumage as before. Bill with a yellow spot or blotch in front of 
eye, usually small, sometimes wanting. Bill less lengthened and expanded terminally than in 
C. buccinator, the nostrils across the middle ; the distance from the anterior angle of the eye 
