Szvan Goose. 47 



although Buffon says, it is nearly two 

 months before the young are excluded. 

 Swans' eggs are much larger than those of 

 a goose, white, and with a hard, and some- 

 times tuberous shell. The cygnets are ash- 

 coloured when they first quit the shell, and 

 for some months after ; indeed, they do not 

 change their colour, nor begin to moult their 

 plumage, until twelve months old, nor as- 

 sume their perfect glossy whiteness, until 

 advanced in their second year. 



The Cygnoides from Guinea, commonly 

 called the SwAN-GOOSE, or the Muscovy- 

 goose, a sort of middle species between 

 the swan and the goose, is sufficiently plen- 

 tiful in Britain, and unites so well with the 

 common goose, according to report, as to 

 cause little or no perceptible difference in 

 the progeny. They are distinguished by 

 their erect gait, and the screaming which 

 they continue, during almost the whole 

 day, v/ithout any obvious incitement 



