2i8 British Birds ^ 



common occurrence on the British coasts, and par- 

 ticularly in hard winters. Few birds vary much 

 more in size and weight than do these. A young bird 

 of the year may weigh only twelve or thirteen pounds; 

 the older and more full-grown specimens, twenty or 

 twenty-one. They breed very far to the north. 



. fc-/. BEWICK'S ^"^ K^—{Cygnus Bcivickii). 



A smaller bird than the Whooper, and of very 

 much rarer occurrence. Still it is an ascertained 

 species, and visits us frequently, if not annually, in 

 some numbers. 



,a MUTE ^^ K^—iCygnus olorX 



The Common tame Swan of our ornamental waters. 

 — They are found wild in many, if not all, the 

 northern countries of Europe. It is too well known 

 by everyone to require detailed notice here. 



/ a . POLISH SWAN— (6>^w//i- imnmtabilis). 



^ A bird of very rare occurrence in a wild state, and 

 derivincT its Latin name from the circumstance that 

 its plumage undergoes no change in colour at any 

 period of its age. It is always white. The cygnets 

 of the other swans are, on the contrary, gre}' or 

 duskj'-coloured for a lengthened period, and only 

 become white on their reaching maturity. 



RUDDY SHIELDRAKE— (r^^^r;/^ casarca ; 

 rt,i formei'ly, T. rutild). 



A bird of exceedingly rare occurrence. 



