CTGNTJS CYGNUS 17 



too wary to be reached even by my four-bore duck-gun, we sent back 

 to camp for our '303 rifies, and with these weapons we managed to 

 secure one of the four. When we recovered the bird we found it to 

 be undoubtedly a ' Whooper ' {Cijgnus musicus), and its weight and 

 measurements were as follows : Weight 21 lbs., length from tip of 

 bill to end of tail 4 feet SJ inches, spread of wing 7 feet 5 inches. 



" The bird was only winged and swam about in the river for a 

 considerable time before I could get a man to secure it, and as long 

 as its companions remained in sight it continued to utter its long, 

 loud, musical trumpet-call." 



Nidification.- — In Iceland this was the only species of swan 

 observed by Messrs. H. J. and C. E. Pearson, and in the ' Ibis ' 

 (1895, p. 243) they have the following note : — 



" Eggs were taken on .June 20th and 28th, but the weather 

 among the hills had been so bad this spring that several pairs were 

 only commencing to prepare their nests about the latter date. We 

 afterwards saw a clutch of seven eggs, which had been recently 

 taken. Although these birds sometimes breed on islands in the 

 inhabited districts, it is little use to look for their eggs before you 

 pass the ' last farm,' as they are generally taken either to eat or 

 sell." 



They also breed, but not, I believe, in great numbers, in South 

 Greenland and in the north of Europe, and in Asia as far south 

 as they are allowed by humanity — which is, of course, equivalent to 

 slaughter. 



All swans seem to have the same breeding-habits. They make 

 huge nests of rushes, grass, and any other vegetable material which 

 is soft enough and easily moved ; the preference naturally being 

 given to such as is most handy. These are placed on the borders of 

 marshes and swamps, often on islands situated in such places, some- 

 times actually in shallow water. More rarely they are placed by 

 rivers, either up on the banks removed from the river itself, or in 

 amongst the rank herbage bordering its course. When the nests are 

 placed actually in water, the swans are said to raise them when it 

 happens to rise and threatens to swamp them ; and as tame swans 

 do this, it is in all probability true that the wild ones do also. They 

 lay from four to eight eggs, but in captivity often lay a larger number 

 still. I have known a tame duck-swan lay fourteen eggs in a sitting. 

 According to Morris, the smaller number of eggs laid are generally 

 2 



