olor columbianus

2 definitions found

olor columbianus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
        [1913 Webster]

  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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