CTGKUS CTGNUS 195 



is tolerably numerous and to be seen flying over Tangier in small 

 flights in December, returning in April. 



In its wild state the Mute Swan is shy and wary, frequenting, 

 as a rule, lakes and similar open pieces of water, where it cannot 

 easily be approached. Though so graceful and beautiful a bird in the 

 water, it is singularly ungainly and awkward on land. Its flight 

 is rather heavy, though once the bird is on the wing, powerful and 

 capable of being maintained for a considerable length of time. Even 

 tame Swans occasionally fly well, and I had one, which flew off from 

 ray garden to a spot some ten miles distant, where it was recaptured 

 and brought back to me. The food of this species consists chiefly 

 of the tender shoots of water plants, grain and seeds, and also, 

 it is said, to a certain extent of insects, snails, molluscs, and small 

 fish. It has a loud, trumpet-like note, uttered chiefly during the 

 breeding season, but, as a rule, is silent save for a peculiar low 

 " whish," repeated two or three times. It also makes a hissing sound 

 when approached too closely, and particularly in spring time when 

 breeding. It is a most devoted parent until its young are nearly 

 a year old, when all its thoughts and attention are turned to its 

 coming brood, and its previous offspring are then driven away by the 

 old birds. Its nest is a large mass of rushes or aquatic herbage, and 

 its eggs, usually four or five in number, are a dull greenish-white, 

 as a rule, and measure about 102 X 75 mm. 



CYGNUS CYGNUS (Linnsus). 

 WHOOPER SWAN. 



Anas cygnus, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 191 (1766). 

 Cygnus cygnus, Lesson, Man. d'Oni. ii, p. 407 (1828). 

 Olor cygnus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 354 (1867). 

 Cygnus musicus, Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxvii, p. 26 ; Koeniij, 

 J.f. 0. 1888, p. 285; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 95. 



Description. — Adult male, winter, from Italy. 



Differs from C. olor in lacking the frontal tubercle, and iu having the bill 

 yellow at the base and black towards the tip, the bare loral space also 

 yellow; iris dark brown ; feet blackish. 



Total length 55 inches, wing 24, culmeu 3-50, tarsus 4. 



