344 ANATIDJE. 



be must limit himself to reproducing the summary of 

 evidence in favour of its specific distinctness as set forth 

 by Mr, T. Southwell, one of its warmest and most capable 

 advocates. 



"Since Mr. Stevenson's excellent monograph ('The Polish 

 Swan,' printed for private circulation) was written, I have 

 had additional opportunities of examining Norfolk-killed 

 specimens of the Polish Swan ; and other important evi- 

 dence has been accumulated, which tends greatly to 

 strengthen my previous opinion, that the so-called Cygnus 

 immutahilis is really a true species. The Polish Swan 

 has actually been bred in confinement by Lord Lilford, 

 producing white cygnets ; and from these white cygnets 

 his Lordship has again bred another generation of 

 white cygnets. Lord Lilford does not appear to have re- 

 corded this ; and it was only in the course of conversation 

 that it came to light. Upon being applied to by Mr. 

 Stevenson, his Lordship kindly wrote him full particulars 

 of the occurrence, and at the same time expressed his 

 decided opinion that the species is a good one. Before, 

 however, this was known, the Council of the Zoological 

 Society, finding that the pair in their possession mentioned 

 by Mr. Stevenson, did not breed in their confined home in 

 the Gardens, determined to intrust them to Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, hoping that more liberty and a change of quarters 

 might induce them to breed. In the spring of the present 

 year they were accordingly sent to Northrepps, where they 

 at once settled, and in due time made a nest, and out of six 

 eggs produced five young ones — three on the 21st, and two 

 on the 22nd of May ; these were a delicate buff-colour when 

 hatched, which gradually faded to pure white. When I 

 first saw them on June 2nd, the buff" tinge was hardly 

 perceptible, except on the back, which appeared of a rich 

 creamy-buft", with the under parts nearly pure white. On 

 the 27tli July, Mr. Gurney wrote me, that the cygnets were 

 beginning to show some feathers, which were ' dull cinna- 

 mon-brown, much like the first down.' About the 10th of 

 August the most backward and smallest cygnet died ; the 



