SNOW-GOOSE AND SWAN 
283 
described and recognized by ornithologists, 
the “Greater” Snow-Goose, and the “Lesser.” 
If the specimen under the tape is a large one, it 
is the former species; but if it is smaller than 
the average, it is booked as the “Lesser.” Ob- 
viously, the wisest course is to discard both 
adjectives of size, and recognize the Snow-Goose 
only, be it more or less. 
This easily recognized bird, like the ma- 
jority of our other wild geese and ducks, wan- 
ders over almost the whole of the well-watered 
portion of North America down to Cuba and 
Mexico ; but where the guns of civilization are 
most numerous it is now a rare and lonesome 
bird. To-day it is more abundant — or it 
were better to say, less scarce — in the Mississippi 
valley, Texas, and the Pacific states than else- 
where. Where they were permitted to do so, 
these birds often assembled in large flocks, and 
often made themselves conspicuous around 
the prairie-ponds of the Dakotas and Minne- 
sota. When you are travelling over the Northern 
Pacific Railway, or the Great Northern, and 
see on the smooth prairie a flock of rather large 
white birds, it is safe to declare that they are 
Snow-Geese. 
The Swans. — Last of the Order of Ducks, 
and farthest from the type of the Order, are 
the Swans. Although two species are recog- 
nized, the difference between them is not always 
visible to the naked eye. 
The Trumpeter Swan 1 is one of our largest 
birds, and considering its great size it is strange 
that it has not been exterminated ere this. 
Its existence speaks highly for its wariness. 
Living specimens are purchasable at from $20 
to $30 each, and the majority of them come 
from Texas and the plains region. To my 
mind, this is the least attractive of all the 
large swimming-birds, and it certainly is one 
of the most pugnacious and quarrelsome. 
In captivity, Trumpeter Swans always wish to 
do the wrong thing. Even when policy de- 
mands that they at least appear friendly, they 
are always truculently hissing at and threatening 
their human neighbors, friends as well as ene- 
mies. This Swan’s voice is like a short blast 
1 O'lor buc-cin-a' tor . Length, 4 feet 8 inches ; 
height, when standing erect, 3 feet 9 inches; 
expanse of wings, 7 feet 10 inches; weight, 22 
pounds. 
on a French horn, but when a large flock rises 
from a pond in a wilderness, and gets fairly 
under way, the chorus given forth on such occa- 
sions I know to be decidedly musical, and 
also heart-breaking when out of range. 
With birds smaller than themselves, Swans 
often are so quarrelsome and murderous they 
require to be separated, and yarded by them- 
selves. 
On level ground, the Swan is the most un- 
gainly of all the American members of the 
Order of Ducks; and even afloat, its bows lie 
much too deep in the water. 
The central line of migration and distribu- 
tion of this species is the western boundary of 
the states forming the western bank of the 
Mississippi. It breeds from Iowa northward 
to the Barren Grounds, and in the United 
States straggles eastward and westward to both 
shores of the continent. I have seen speci- 
mens taken in 1885 in the Potomac River, and 
it has often been observed near Los Angeles, 
southern California. 
Thus far, only one naturalist (so far as we 
know) ever has heard the “Song of the Dying 
Swan.” Mr. D. G. Elliot, in “Wild Fowl of 
North America,” records the following inter- 
esting observation: 
“Once, when shooting in Carrituck Sound, 
. . . a number of Swan passed over us at 
a considerable height. We fired at them, and 
one splendid bird was mortally hurt. On re- 
ceiving his wound the wings became fixed, and 
he commenced at once his song, which was 
continued until the water was reached, nearly 
half a mile away. I am perfectly familiar with 
every note a Swan is accustomed to utter, but 
never before nor since have I heard any like 
those sung by this stricken bird. Most plaintive 
in character, and musical in tone, it sounded 
at times like the soft running of the notes in an 
octave.” 
The Whistling Swan 2 is accorded rank as a 
species chiefly on the strength of a small yellow 
patch on the base of the bill — which is not al- 
ways present! Young Swans of both species 
are of a dirty-gray color — not white; but the 
plumage of the adult bird is perfectly white. 
The bill and feet are jet black. 
2 O'lor co-lum-bi-an'us. 
