BIRDS. 359 



to hear a loud hooping cry, and notice a flight of birds of 

 large size, and of powerful pinions, passing over his head at 

 a great elevation, he will not fail to remember the Hooper or 

 WhistUng Swan (Cygnus ferus). In entire contradistinction 

 to this species, the one which is domesticated is termed the 

 Mute Swan (C olor); yet it is respecting this bird that the 

 fable becanie current, that it foretold its own death, and sung 

 with pecuhar sweetness at its approach. Thus Shakspeare : — 



" I will play the Swan, 



And die in music." 



But, although the voice of the Swan is but little noticed, the 

 bird is not really mute, as its name would imply; the notes 

 are soft and low, and are described as " plaintive, and with 

 little variety, but not disagreeable."* The classical scholar 

 will call to mind the well-known line, in which the existence 

 of a Black Swan is spoken of in a manner which implies the 

 utter disbeUef in the existence of such a bird ; yet, among the 

 strange creatures which New Holland has sent to us, are 

 Black Swans ; these are now distributed over many parts of 

 these kingdoms where aquatic menageries are established, and 

 form, by their dusty hue, a striking contrast to the snowy tint 

 of their congeners. 



Fig. 281.— Eider Dcck. 



The Sheldrake, the various species of Wild Ducks, with the 

 Teal and Widgeon, we must pass by. The Eider Duck 

 {Somatcria mollLssima, Fig. 281) deserves especial notice, as 



♦ YarrelL 



