SWANS. 



657 



species, and sometimes mistaken for it, known also as the Polish swan, the young of which 

 are pure white when first hatched. 



The Whistling Swan. This bird is called by naturalists Cygnis musicus (musical 

 swan) ; it is somewhat smaller than the Mute Swan, and its neck is shorter and 

 thicker. It has a pure white plumage, yellow bill, which lacks the protuberance of the latter 

 mentioned species. Different writers, in describing this species, all mention the peculiar 

 musical qualities of its voice. Faber says: &quot; Their tuneful, melancholy voices sound like 

 trumpets heard at a distance.&quot; Olaf writes: &quot;When a company of these birds passes through 

 the air, their song is truly delightful, equal to the notes of a violin;&quot; while Schilling 



THE MUTE SWAN. 



describes the tone as sometimes resembling the sound of a bell, and sometimes that of some 

 wind instrument. He says: &quot;This peculiar concert realized to my mind the truth of what I 

 had heard concerning the song of the swan, which I had before regarded as a poetic fiction.&quot; 



The Black Swan is a native of Australia, and, next to the Mute Swan, is one of the 

 most common varieties. It is smaller than the latter, although resembling it in general 

 outline. The plumage is black, shading on some of the feathers to a dark gray; eyes, scarlet; 

 bill, red tipped with white; legs, black. The young are quite hardy. This species is said to be 

 not as gentle in disposition as the Mute Swan, and inclined to be tyrannical and domineering 

 over smaller water fowls. 



