TRUMPETER SWAN. 
437 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eggs, six to ten in number, oval in 
form, and dirty white in color. Dimensions from 2'50 x 4‘00 to 2‘75 x4"50. 
HABITS. 
Some years ago, in April, I was walking along a street in Baltimore, Maryland, when 
glancing upward, I saw a wedge-shaped flock of large, white birds, high in air, passing 
northward, and at once recognized them as being Swans, the first that I had ever seen un¬ 
domesticated, and they were probably on their way to their breeding grounds in the far 
North. Later, however, when on the yacht, Nina, I found Swans common in November, 
in Chesapeake Bay. The notes of the Swans are harsh and loud but are easily recognized. 
CYGNETS BUCCINATOR. 
Trumpeter Swan. 
Cygnus buccinator Rich. F. Bor. Am., II; 1831, 464. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, very large. Bill, longer than head, broad, but not very high at base, with nostrils 
situated in basal portion. Color. Adult. Pare white throughout. Iris, brown. Bill and feet, black. Young. Sim¬ 
ilar, but tinged with pale bluish-ash and reddish. 
• OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known by the very large size, comparatively low base of black bill, and basal situation of nostrils. Distribu¬ 
ted, as a summer resident, throughout Arctic America. Winters from New Jersey to the Carolinas. Rare in New En¬ 
gland during the migrations. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 55’25; stretch, 85'00; wing, 22-50; tail, 7 - 75; bill, 
4 25; tarsus, 4‘45. Longest specimen, 58-50; greatest extent of wing, 00-00; longest wing, 23-00; tail, 8-00; bill, 5-00; tarsus, 
4 - 60. Shortest specimen, 52-00; smallest extent of wing, 80-00; shortest wing, 21-00; tail, 7’50; bill, 4‘50; tarsus, 4'25. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eggs, from six to ten in number, oval 
in form, and dirty-white in color. Dimensions from 2*50 x 4"03 to 2'76 x 4"50. 
HABITS. 
The habits of this and the preceding species are so well known, that I shall not at¬ 
tempt to enlarge upon them, as I can add nothing new to that which has already been writ¬ 
ten. I presume that I saw this species on Chesapeake Bay but as all the Swans are very 
shy, I did not get near enough to identify them. Both species are exceedingly rare in 
New England, passing to their northern breeding grounds, through the interior of the 
country, thus avoiding the coast north of New Jersey. 
GENUS II. ANSER. LONG-BILLED GEESE. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, about as long as head, generally bright in color. Hind toe, rather long. Marginal indentations, open 
and wide. 
Members of this genus are variable in color, but are conspicuously marked with white. The trachea is straight and 
without dilatation. Sexes, similar. There are two species within our limits. 
ANSER HYPERBOREUS. 
Snow Goose. 
Anser hyperboreus Pall., Spic. Zool., VI; 1767, 80. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Pure white; primaries,bluish-gray at base and black at tip. 
Iris, brown. Bill and legs, red. Young. Similar, but tinged with yellowish and rufous. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known by the white color, and black tippings to the primaries. Distributed, in summer, throughout Arctic 
America. Winters in the West. Rare in New England during the migrations. 
