BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



393 



SWAN, MUTE. 



(Cygnus o/o r.) 

 Order ANSERES ; Family ANATID^: (DUCKS). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 four feet eight inches to five feet ; beak fairly 

 long, black on the edges and tip, rest red. The 



SWANS AT NEST. 



knob, or tubercle, on the base of the upper 

 mandible, and the naked skin between the eyes 

 and the base of the bill, black. Irides brown. 

 The whole of the plumage is snowy white. Legs, 

 toes, and webs black. 



The female has the knob smaller, the neck more 

 slender, and swims deeper in the water. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground amongst 

 reeds and coarse vegetation. On small islands and 

 banks. Close to the water of sluggish rivers or 

 lakes in various parts of the country, but princi- 



