318 ANATID.E. 



fact, he observed no other species of Swan. It is found 

 on the Lena, and its breeding-range probably extends over 

 the * tundras ' of Siberia north of the forest-growth ; Prof. 

 Radde received it from the elevated steppes of Dauria ; Pere 

 David says that in China it is more abundant in winter 

 than the Whooper ; and it appears to be found at that season 

 in Japan. 



No details are yet known respecting the nidification of 

 Bewick's Swan, for Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown 

 were baflfled in their attempts to identify by watching — or 

 trapping the birds on the nests which they personally 

 inspected. They succeeded, however, in obtaining two eggs 

 taken by a fisherman who had caught the parent bird on 

 the nest ; the skin proved to be that of Bewick's Swan, 

 and the history bore the strictest investigation. The eggs, 

 which are white and dull, measure 3'9 by 2'6 in. ; smaller, 

 as might be expected, than those of the Whooper. Other 

 eggs, which were identified by their size and general appear- 

 ance, but respecting which there can be no reasonable doubt, 

 were obtained by Mr. Seebohm on his subsequent visit to 

 the Yeuesei. 



Thompson mentions that in February, 1830, a flock con- 

 taining seven of these Swans alighted in a flooded meadow 

 near Belfast, when two of them were so disabled by a shot as 

 to be, after some difiiculty, secured. They were bought by 

 his friend Mr. William Sinclaire, and their wounds being 

 found so trivial as merely to incapacitate them from flight, 

 they were placed in his aquatic menagerie. Mr. Sinclaire 

 states that every spring and autumn since he has had these 

 Swans, they have regularly, about the mouths of March and 

 September, become very restless, and for the period of at 

 least three weeks have wandered from the enclosure within 

 which they are contented to remain all the rest of the year. 

 In disposition they are timid and extremely gentle, and 

 never attempt to molest any of the wild-fowl confined in the 

 same pond with them, though all of these are their inferiors 

 in strength and size. Their call, chiefly uttered at the 

 migratory period, is a low deep-toned whistle, once repeated. 



