28 EGGS OF BKITISH BIRDS. 



FAMILY ANATIDM. 



SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 



Of these Birds we have forty-four species in England, of which 

 fourteen may be considered residents, sixteen regular migrants, 

 and fourteen occasional or accidental visitors. 



THE MUTE SWAN. 



(Cygnus olor.) 



Plate 7, Fig. 2. 



The Mute Swan has a very restricted range. It is doubtful 

 whether in a wild state it breeds west of the Rhine ; and north of 

 the Baltic it only nests in Denmark and South Sweden, being 

 also an accidental visitor to Norway. It is a summer visitor to 

 South Russia, the valley of the Danube, Transylvania, and 

 Greece ; but in the basin of the Mediterranean it is principally 

 known as a winter migrant. It is a summer visitor to the northern 

 shores of the Caspian, to Turkestan, and to Mongolia, occasionally 

 straying into Dauria, where it was observed by Radde. 



In the northern portion of its range the Swan is a migratory 

 bird, arriving at its breeding-grounds in March and leaving them 

 again in October. The nest is a large structure, four or five feet 

 across and at least a couple of feet high, composed of old reeds, 

 dead grass, and other herbage. 



The number of eggs varies from five to eight. There is often 

 very little difference in the shape of the two ends ; the texture is 

 rough, and there is scarcely any gloss. They vary in length from 

 49 to 4'3 inches, and in breadth from 31 to 2'8 inches. They 

 may always be distinguished from eggs of the other British Swans 

 by their greenish-white colour. 



THE WHOOPER OR WILD SWAN. 



(Cygnus musicus.) 

 Plate 7, Fig. 1. 

 The Whooper is a tolerably common winter visitor to the 

 coasts of the British Islands. It appears to be confined to the 



