164 • 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. 



