olor columbianus

Swan \Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
   swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
   perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds
      belonging to {Cygnus}, {Olor}, and allied genera of the
      subfamily {Cygninae}. They have a large and strong beak
      and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
      movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
      white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
      melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
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   Note: The European white, or mute, swan ({Cygnus gibbus}),
         which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
         an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
         of the genus {Olor} do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
         curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
         due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
         genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
         ({Olor cygnus}), the American whistling swan ({Olor
         Columbianus}), and the trumpeter swan ({Olor
         buccinator}). The Australian black swan ({Chenopis
         atrata}) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
         the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
         very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
         South American black-necked swan ({Sthenelides
         melancorypha}) is a very beautiful and graceful
         species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
         which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
         double bright rose-colored knob.
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   2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
      for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
      Avon.
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   3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
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   {Swan goose} (Zool.), a bird of India ({Cygnopsis cygnoides})
      resembling both the swan and the goose.

   {Swan shot}, a large size of shot used in fowling.
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Whistling \Whis"tling\,
   a. & n. from {Whistle}, v.
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   {Whistling buoy}. (Naut.) See under {Buoy}.

   {Whistling coot} (Zool.), the American black scoter.

   {Whistling Dick}. (Zool.)
   (a) An Australian shrike thrush ({Colluricincla Selbii}).
   (b) The song thrush. [Prov. Eng.]

   {Whistling duck}. (Zool.)
   (a) The golden-eye.
   (b) A tree duck.

   {Whistling eagle} (Zool.), a small Australian eagle
      ({Haliastur sphenurus}); -- called also {whistling hawk},
      and {little swamp eagle}.

   {Whistling plover}. (Zool.)
   (a) The golden plover.
   (b) The black-bellied, or gray, plover.

   {Whistling snipe} (Zool.), the American woodcock.

   {Whistling swan}. (Zool.)
   (a) The European whooper swan; -- called also {wild swan},
       and {elk}.
   (b) An American swan ({Olor columbianus}). See under {Swan}.
       

   {Whistling teal} (Zool.), a tree duck, as {Dendrocygna
      awsuree} of India.

   {Whistling thrush}. (Zool.)
   (a) Any one of several species of singing birds of the genus
       {Myiophonus}, native of Asia, Australia, and the East
       Indies. They are generally black, glossed with blue, and
       have a patch of bright blue on each shoulder. Their note
       is a loud and clear whistle.
   (b) The song thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
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