CYGNUS OLOR 25 



Measurements — Length 4 feet 2 inches to 4 feet 8 inches, wing 18 to 

 22 inches, tail under 10, culmen about 4, tarsus about 4'3. 



Young. — " Phimage almost a sooty-grey, neck and under surface of the 

 body lighter in colour, beak lead-colour, nostrils and the basal marginal line 

 black." (Salvadori.) 



Cygnet. — "Covered with soft brownish or dull ashy-grey down, which 

 on the lower throat and breast becomea much paler, almost white, bill and 

 legs lead-grey." (Salvadori.) 



In India the specimens of the Mute Swan obtained are nearly all young 

 ones, and these have the tubercle on the liill very slightly or not at all 

 developed, but the feathers of the forehead at the base of the bill are 

 prolonged to a point " slightly truncated." {Hume.) 



When adult this swan can always be distinguished at a glance by 

 the knob at the base of tlie bill, but at all ages it can be determined by 

 the black lores. 



Distribution. — The range of this bird does not seem to be nearly 

 as extensive as that of the Whooper and Cijgnus bewicki, that is 

 to say in a truly feral state. As a domestic bird it is, of course, 

 almost cosmopolitan. In the summer, in its wild state, it is said to 

 be found throughout the central and south-eastern parts of Europe ; 

 but it is more rare in the north, and is practically absent from the 

 extreme north and the west. It has only twice been recorded from 

 Heligoland, once in 1881, and once many years previous to that, both 

 times in the winter. It extends throughout Prussia and Eussia. 

 Writing of Eastern Prussia, Hartert says : " C. olor breeds in small 

 numbers in some of the greater lakes." Breeding-places are recorded 

 in West Turkestan and Siberia, and also in Denmark, Norway and 

 Sweden, and I believe in Greece and parts of the valley of the 

 Danube. In Asia it is found in West Siberia and adjoining countries. 

 In winter it extends its range to Northern Africa, but does not 

 seem to work far to the west, through Egypt, Arabia, Asia Minor, 

 and frequently into Afghanistan. North-west India is, however, the 

 extreme south-east point to which it has penetrated, not being on 

 record as yet as having been obtained in China and further east. 



Occurrences in India. — (1) Skin in British Museum, shot by W. 

 Mahomed Umar, January, 1857, in the Shah Alum Eiver, Punjab. 



(2) Two young birds shot by Captain Unwin on the Jubee 

 Stream, North-west Provinces, January, 1871. Skins in the British 

 Museum. 



