ANATID. A471 
far down the sides: it also differs in anatomical 
structure. 
The food of Bewick’s Swan appears to consist 
principally of the roots, stalks and leaves of aquatic 
plants, and the larve of insects and worms:* seeds 
also may be added, as Yarrell says the stomach of 
one examined by Mr. Thompson contained only 
minute seeds and gravel. 
The nest is said to be composed of boughs of the 
northern willow, rushes, leaves of divers flags, piled 
one upon another, without much labour being be- 
stowed in weaving them together.t 
The beak of this Swan is black from the tip to 
above the nostrils and to the base at the margin of 
the upper mandible; the base of the beak is a more 
orange-yellow than that of the Wild Swan; the 
irides are dark; the whole of the plumage of the 
adult bird pure white; the legs, toes and webs 
black. The young birds in their first winter are 
greyish brown; by their second winter they have 
acquired the white plumage, but the head and breast 
are strongly marked with rusty red; the base of the 
beak is lemon-yellow and the irides orange. | 
The egg, like the bird, is smaller than that of the 
Hooper, and of a pale brownish white colour. § 
* Meyer’s ‘ British Birds,’ vol. vi., p. 65. 
7 ads, poe: 
t Yarrell, vol. iii., p. 204. 
§ Id., p. 200. 
