64. MUTE SWAN. 
and when fatigued by the strength of the stream, or requiring 
to be removed to. a far distance, too great for their young 
capacity, the hen bird takes the young ones on her back, 
which she accomplishes by lowering herself a little in the 
water, and occasionally assisting them to ascend with her 
foot, and in this manner they are carried in safety to some 
more desirable spot. The shape of the Swan’s back, which 
is very flat, is well adapted for this purpose; and when her 
wings are raised, the young ones repose in the most beautiful 
and safe cradle imaginable.’ 
Male; weight, about thirty pounds; length, from four feet 
eight inches to five feet; bill, rich reddish orange, with the 
exception of the tooth, the edges, the base, and the knob, 
which are black, and which colour reaches back to the eyes; 
iris, dark brown. Head, crown, neck, nape, chin, throat, breast, 
and back, all white. Greater and lesser wing coverts, primaries, 
secondaries, tertiaries, greater and lesser under wing coverts, 
tail and tail coverts, also white. Legs and toes, black; webs, 
black. 
The female is smaller and slighter in make; the knob at 
the base of the bill is also not so large. 
The young are at first of a dark dull bluish grey colour; 
bill, at first lead-colour, then becoming lightish slate-colour, 
with a tinge of green. ‘The chin, throat, and breast, are 
paler than the back. By the end of the second summer, 
they have already done with the grey livery, and when two 
years old are completely white. 
