TRUMPETER SWAN. 
225 
broad reticulated entire membranes. Claws rather small, strong, arched, 
compressed, rather obtuse, that of the middle toe much larger, with a dilated 
thin edge. 
A portion of the forehead about half an inch in length, and the space 
intervening between the bill and the eye, are bare. Plumage dense, soft, 
and elastic ; on the head and neck the feathers oblong, acuminate ; on the 
other parts in general broadly ovate and rounded, on the back short and 
compact. Wings long and broad, the anterior protuberance of the first 
phalangeal bone very prominent ; primaries curved, stiff, tapering to an 
obtuse point ; the second longest, exceeding the first by half an inch, and the 
third by a quarter of an inch ; secondaries very broad and rounded, some 
of the inner rather pointed. Tail very short, graduated, of twenty-four 
stiffish, moderately broad, rather pointed feathers, of which the middle 
exceeds the lateral by two inches and a quarter. 
Bill and feet black, the outer lamellate edges of the lower mandible, and 
the inside of the mouth, yellowish flesh-colour. The plumage is pure 
white, excepting the upper part of the head, which varies from brownish- 
red to white, apparently without reference to age or sex, as in Cygnus 
Americanus and Anser hyperboreus. 
Length to end of tail 68 inches ; bill along the ridge 4f|, from the eye 
to the tip 6, along the edge of lower mandible 4 T 7 2 ; breadth of upper man- 
dible near the base 1/^, near the end lf|; wing from flexure 27; tail 8£; 
tarsus 4 t 8 2-; first toe V°|, its claw T \; second toe 4^, its claw 1; third toe 6, 
its claw l|i; fourth toe 5\i, its claw ' r °i- 
Young after first moult. 
In winter the young has the bill black, with the middle portion of the 
ridge, to the length of an inch and a half, light flesh colour, and a large 
elongated patch of light dull purple on each side ; the edge of the lower 
mandible and the tongue dull yellowish flesh-colour. The eye is dark brown. 
The feet dull yellowish-brown, tinged with olive; the claws brownish-black; 
the webs blackish-brown. The upper part of the head and the cheeks are 
light reddish-brown, each feather having towards its extremity a small 
oblong whitish spot, narrowly margined with dusky; the throat nearly 
white, as well as the edge of the lower eyelid. The general colour of the 
other parts is greyish-white, slightly tinged with yellow; the upper part 
of the neck marked with spots similar to those on the head. 
Length to end of tail 52i inches ; extent of wings 91, wing from flexure 
23^: bill along the ridge 41, from the angle of the eye 6, along the edge of 
the lower mandible 41; tarsus 4 h\ hind toe 11, its claw i; middle toe 6J-, 
its claw 1; inner toe 4s, its claw If; outer toe 61, its claw f. Weight 19 
lbs. 8 oz.; the bird very poor. 
Vol. YI. 
31 
