BEWICK'S SWAN. 



Cyrjnus HewicJcn. 

 PLATE II.* FIG. 4. 



A DISTINCT species of Swan only began to attract 

 attention about the years 1827 or 28, although one 

 or two Ornithologists had previously examined spe- 

 cimens and pointed out distinctions. Soon after, its' 

 dedication, to hand down to posterity the Ornitho- 

 logist of Newcastle, was by common consent recog- 

 nised. Specimens have since been procured in 

 several districts of England, Scotland and Ireland, 

 but it is by no means common. A good many 

 swans occurred last winter in the Edinburgh mnvkets, 

 wiiere we were on the outlook for any thing re- 

 markable, but they were all birds of the preceding 

 species, and it may be considered as a much rarer 

 bird. On the continent it has also been sparingly 

 obtained, but nearly the same proportional disparity 

 of numbers occur there, while its range over Europe 

 or beyond that boundary is comparatively unknown. 

 M. Temminck states that it breeds in Iceland. 



The adult plumage is white after passing through 

 the changes of dull brown, as we saw in the last. 

 The head and neck are also generally streaked with 

 rufous. But it is easily distinguished by its lesser 



