1 01^4 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRD$. 



^RDER-CHENOMORPH/E. 

 5ub=0rder— Anseres : Geese, &c. 



FAMILY— ANATID^ : DUCKS. 



Sub-family — Cygnin/E : Swans. 



741. — Chenop.sis atrata, Lathain. — (577) 

 BLACK SWAN. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 6. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. .\xvii., p. 41. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1S48), 

 also Handbook, vol. li., p. 34S (1865); North: Austn. Mus. 

 Cat., p. 33; (iSSg). 



Genyrnphicdl DisfrHnitinu. — Whole of Australia and Tasmania. 



Next. — Large, open, itsually constnii'ted of coarse aquatic herbage, 

 sticks, bark, &c., sometimes lined with a, thick layer of finer material — 

 such as leaves, bark, roots of gi-ass, and finished inside with a few featliei's 

 and a small quantity of down. Generally situated amongst the sedges 

 or rank vegetation of a swamp, or on debris at th^ base of a tree in the 

 centre of a lagoon. Dimensions : base, at water, 39 inches in diameter 

 by 17 inches high ; top or egg cavity, 12J iuclies across by 3A inches deep. 



E(/</ii. — Clutch, four to .six, rarely seven to ejght ; elliptical in shape ; 

 texture of shell coarse ; surface glossy ; colour, dull greenish-white, more 

 or less soiled with brownish stains: if the outside coating bo removed 

 a pale green shell is reve.aled. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch : 

 (1) 4-2 X 2-5, (2) 4-15 x 2-55, (3) 4-1 x 2-58, (4) 4-05 x 2-5, (5) 4-0 x 2-57. 

 Average weight, when full, about 9 ounces. 



Oh.terratioim. — Few large birds are more ornamental and interesting 

 than the Black Swan, which is found in almost every part of Australia, 

 particularly in the southern portions, including Tasmania. 



Its elegant figiu'e is well knowai. Its du.sky pliunage is nllevid with 

 pinkj'-red eyes and bill, and more strikingly witli white ])inions, especially 

 when tlio bird is on the wing. Black Swans love tlie sheltered .salt 

 waters, swamps, and estuaries of the coast, a.s well ,as (lie fresli lakes 

 and lagoons of the int<'rior. 



These splendid birds are still numerous in the lakes and back-water.s 

 of Gippsland. Naturally the Black Swaji was <x conspicuous bird to 

 tho early discoverers of Australia, and gave rise to sueli geograpl\ical 

 names as Swan River, Swan Bay, Swan Reach, itc. The liistory and 



