144 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



trast. The bill, which bears a double frontal knob at base, is light plumbeous ; the 

 knob, intense rose-color, the nail whitish ; the legs are flesh-colored. This species, 

 the smallest of the swans, inhabits South America, from Chili, across the continent, 

 and southward to Tierra del Fuego and the Falklaixl Islands. Mr. Gibson gives some 

 notes on its occurrence and habits in Buenos Ayres, from which we select the follow- 

 ing: "As there are a great many swamps and fens here, it is but natural that all the 

 water-fowl should be reijresented in extraordinary numbers; and accordingly even 



v.; 



Fio. 69. — Chennpis atraUi, .Vustralian black swan. 



swans are nearly as abundant with us as ducks are in other districts. I have counted 

 about two hundred on one small lagoon in a swamp; and tlie latter is but one in a 

 whole network of swamjis and w.itcrcourses. Another great fen, bordering our land, is 

 known as the C.niiada de Cisncros, or Swam]) of the Swanneries, an eminently suggestive 

 name for the oologist, one which its character well bears out. About the beginning 

 of the century, the first Christians (so-called in contradistinction to the Indians) who 

 reached this district were Gauchos, who, in pursuit of swans for the sake of their skins. 



