402 WHOOPER. 



according to Reinhardt, it occasionally wanders to Greenland, where 

 it used to nest as far north as Godthaab, until exterminated by the 

 natives. In Norway it is seldom known to breed below the Arctic 

 circle, but in Sweden, Finland, and Northern Russia it is found in 

 summer down to 62° N. lat. On migration it visits the estuaries and 

 inland waters of Europe as far south as the Mediterranean, Black 

 and Caspian Seas, while in severe winters it ranges to the lakes of 

 Algeria, Lower Egypt, and Palestine. From May to autumn it 

 inhabits Arctic Siberia, and is common during cold weather in 

 Japan and China ; it is also said to have occurred in Nepal, and 

 passes through Turkestan on migration. 



The nest is a large structure of coarse herbage, and is generally 

 placed on an island in a lake, concealed in willow- and other scrub 

 where such covert is available. The eggs vary in number from 2-5, 

 though a mature female will sometimes lay 7 ; their colour is pale 

 yellowish-white, average measurements 4*5 by 2*9 in. Incubation, 

 which lasts forty-two days, often begins in the latter part of May ; and 

 Dr. Palmen states that the young grow so slowly as to be unable to 

 fly until the end of August, or even later. The food consists of the 

 roots and stems of aquatic weeds, and of grass. The note is loud 

 and trumpet-like, and, when uttered during flight, often forms a 

 rhythmical accompaniment to the strokes of the pinions. 



The adult has the entire plumage white, with occasionally an 

 ochreous tint (probably adventitious) on the feathers of the head ; 

 the legs, toes, and their membranes black. The distinguishing ex- 

 ternal characteristic of this species lies in the beak, the anterior part 

 of which is depressed and black, while the basal portion is quad- 

 rangular and lemon-yellow ; this latter colour extending forward 

 beyond the openings of the black nostrils. Whole length of a male 

 60 in. ; wing 25*5 in. ; weight 24 lbs. The female is smaller. The 

 young bird has the beak of a dull flesh-colour, tipped and margined 

 with black ; the upper plumage ash-brown, and the under parts 

 paler, as far as the flesh-coloured legs, the vent being white. Adult 

 plumage is attained by the second winter. 



The Whooper and all the other species of the genus found in the 

 northern hemisphere — except the Mute or Tame Sv/an — have a 

 remarkable cavity in the keel of the sternum, along which the tube 

 of the trachea passes. In the Tame Swan the keel is single and un- 

 provided with a cavity. Some further remarks will be found at the 

 end of the next article. 



